Proteomic and Global DNA Methylation Modulation in Lipid Metabolism Disorders with a Marine-Derived Bioproduct

Dyslipidemia is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke. Our recent findings showed that RCI-1502, a bioproduct derived from the muscle of the European S. pilchardus, has lipid-lowering effects in the liver and heart in high-fat diet (HFD) fed mice. In the present follow-up study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of RCI-1502 on gene expression and DNA methylation in HFD-fed mice and in patients with dyslipidemia. Using LC-MS/MS, we identified 75 proteins in RCI-1502 that are primarily involved in binding and catalytic activity and which regulate pathways implicated in cardiovascular diseases. In HFD-fed mice, RCI-1502 treatment significantly reduced the expression of cardiovascular disease-related genes, including vascular cell adhesion molecule and angiotensin. RCI-1502 also decreased DNA methylation levels, which were elevated in HFD-fed mice, to levels similar to those in control animals. Furthermore, peripheral blood leukocyte DNA from dyslipidemic patients exhibited higher DNA methylation levels than healthy individuals, suggesting a potential association with cardiovascular risk. Serum analysis also revealed that RCI-1502 treatment regulated cholesterol and triglyceride levels in patients with dyslipidemia. Our findings appear to suggest that RCI-1502 is an epigenetic modulator for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, specifically in individuals with dyslipidemia.

Nosustrophine: An Epinutraceutical Bioproduct with Effects on DNA Methylation, Histone Acetylation and Sirtuin Expression in Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common cause of dementia, causes irreversible memory loss and cognitive deficits. Current AD drugs do not significantly improve cognitive function or cure the disease. Novel bioproducts are promising options for treating a variety of diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders. Targeting the epigenetic apparatus with bioactive compounds (epidrugs) may aid AD prevention treatment. The aims of this study were to determine the composition of a porcine brain-derived extract Nosustrophine, and whether treating young and older trigenic AD mice produced targeted epigenetic and neuroprotective effects against neurodegeneration. Nosustrophine regulated AD-related APOE and PSEN2 gene expression in young and older APP/BIN1/COPS5 mice, inflammation-related (NOS3 and COX-2) gene expression in 3-4-month-old mice only, global (5mC)- and de novo DNA methylation (DNMT3a), HDAC3 expression and HDAC activity in 3-4-month-old mice; and SIRT1 expression and acetylated histone H3 protein levels in 8-9-month-old mice. Mass spectrometric analysis of Nosustrophine extracts revealed the presence of adenosylhomocysteinase, an enzyme implicated in DNA methylation, and nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase, which produces the NAD+ precursor, enhancing SIRT1 activity. Our findings show that Nosustrophine exerts substantial epigenetic effects against AD-related neurodegeneration and establishes Nosustrophine as a novel nutraceutical bioproduct with epigenetic properties (epinutraceutical) that may be therapeutically effective for prevention and early treatment for AD-related neurodegeneration.