scholarly journals Schisandrin B as a Hormetic Agent for Preventing Age-Related Neurodegenerative Diseases

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Y. Lam ◽  
Kam Ming Ko

Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction have been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, with the latter preceding the appearance of clinical symptoms. The energy failure resulting from mitochondrial dysfunction further impedes brain function, which demands large amounts of energy. Schisandrin B (Sch B), an active ingredient isolated from Fructus Schisandrae, has been shown to afford generalized tissue protection against oxidative damage in various organs, including the brain, of experimental animals. Recent experimental findings have further demonstrated that Sch B can protect neuronal cells against oxidative challenge, presumably by functioning as a hormetic agent to sustain cellular redox homeostasis and mitoenergetic capacity in neuronal cells. The combined actions of Sch B offer a promising prospect for preventing or possibly delaying the onset of neurodegenerative diseases, as well as enhancing brain health.

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nelson de Oliveira Manzanza ◽  
Lucia Sedlackova ◽  
Raj N. Kalaria

Lewy Body Disorders (LBDs) lie within the spectrum of age-related neurodegenerative diseases now frequently categorized as the synucleinopathies. LBDs are considered to be among the second most common form of neurodegenerative dementias after Alzheimer's disease. They are progressive conditions with variable clinical symptoms embodied within specific cognitive and behavioral disorders. There are currently no effective treatments for LBDs. LBDs are histopathologically characterized by the presence of abnormal neuronal inclusions commonly known as Lewy Bodies (LBs) and extracellular Lewy Neurites (LNs). The inclusions predominantly comprise aggregates of alpha-synuclein (aSyn). It has been proposed that post-translational modifications (PTMs) such as aSyn phosphorylation, ubiquitination SUMOylation, Nitration, o-GlcNacylation, and Truncation play important roles in the formation of toxic forms of the protein, which consequently facilitates the formation of these inclusions. This review focuses on the role of different PTMs in aSyn in the pathogenesis of LBDs. We highlight how these PTMs interact with aSyn to promote misfolding and aggregation and interplay with cell membranes leading to the potential functional and pathogenic consequences detected so far, and their involvement in the development of LBDs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 147-149
Author(s):  
Ratan Kumari ◽  
Nikhila Shekhar ◽  
Sakshi Tyagi ◽  
Ajit Kumar Thakur

Mitochondrial dysfunction is estimated to be the primary reason involved in different types of neurodegenerative disorders as mitochondria is suggested to be important in the production of reactive oxygen species. Recently, several evidences have emerged out for impaired mitochondrial structures and functions viz. shape, size, fission-fusion, distribution, movement etc. in neurodegenerative diseases especially with Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease. Therefore, apart from looking neurodegenerative diseases on the whole, a detailed understanding of the functioning of mitochondria and their role in degeneration would pave new options for the therapy of age-related neurodegenerative diseases.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin Zhang ◽  
Nadine Alshakhshir ◽  
Liqin Zhao

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of age-related dementia. Despite decades of research, the etiology and pathogenesis of AD are not well understood. Brain glucose hypometabolism has long been recognized as a prominent anomaly that occurs in the preclinical stage of AD. Recent studies suggest that glycolytic metabolism, the cytoplasmic pathway of the breakdown of glucose, may play a critical role in the development of AD. Glycolysis is essential for a variety of neural activities in the brain, including energy production, synaptic transmission, and redox homeostasis. Decreased glycolytic flux has been shown to correlate with the severity of amyloid and tau pathology in both preclinical and clinical AD patients. Moreover, increased glucose accumulation found in the brains of AD patients supports the hypothesis that glycolytic deficit may be a contributor to the development of this phenotype. Brain hyperglycemia also provides a plausible explanation for the well-documented link between AD and diabetes. Humans possess three primary variants of the apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene – ApoE∗ϵ2, ApoE∗ϵ3, and ApoE∗ϵ4 – that confer differential susceptibility to AD. Recent findings indicate that neuronal glycolysis is significantly affected by human ApoE isoforms and glycolytic robustness may serve as a major mechanism that renders an ApoE2-bearing brain more resistant against the neurodegenerative risks for AD. In addition to AD, glycolytic dysfunction has been observed in other neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, strengthening the concept of glycolytic dysfunction as a common pathway leading to neurodegeneration. Taken together, these advances highlight a promising translational opportunity that involves targeting glycolysis to bolster brain metabolic resilience and by such to alter the course of brain aging or disease development to prevent or reduce the risks for not only AD but also other neurodegenerative diseases.


Author(s):  
C.W. Ritchie ◽  
J.M.J. Waymont ◽  
C. Pennington ◽  
K. Draper ◽  
A. Borthwick ◽  
...  

In order to address the oft-cited societal, economic, and health and social care impacts of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, we must move decisively from reactive to proactive clinical practice and to embed evidence-based brain health education throughout society. Most disease processes can be at least partially prevented, slowed, or reversed. We have long neglected to intervene in neurodegenerative disease processes, largely due to a misconception that their predominant symptom – cognitive decline – is a normal, age-related process, but also due to a lack of multi-disciplinary collaboration. We now understand that there are modifiable risk factors for neurodegenerative diseases, that successful management of common comorbidities (such as diabetes and hypertension) can reduce the incidence of neurodegenerative disease, and that disease processes begin (and, crucially, can be detected, reduced, and delayed, prevented, or treated) decades earlier in life than had previously been appreciated. Brain Health Scotland, established by Scottish Government and working in partnership with Alzheimer Scotland, propose far-reaching public health and clinical practice approaches to reduce neurodegenerative disease incidence. Focusing here on Brain Health Scotland’s clinical offerings, we present the Scottish Model for Brain Health Services. To our knowledge, the Scottish Model for Brain Health, built on foundations of personalised risk profiling, targeted risk reduction and prevention, early disease detection, equity of access, and harnessing comprehensive data to assist in clinical decision-making, marks the first example of a nationwide approach to overhauling clinical, societal, and political approaches to the prevention, assessment, and treatment of neurodegenerative disease.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (16) ◽  
pp. 7385
Author(s):  
Hongtao Liu ◽  
Hanhan Liu ◽  
Verena Prokosch

Mitochondria are the energy factories of cells. Mitochondrial dysfunction directly affects the function and morphology of cells. In recent years, growing evidence has shown that mitochondrial dysfunction plays an important role in neurodegenerative diseases. In the eye, some age-related diseases are considered to be neurodegenerative diseases, such as primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Here, we review the mechanisms of mitochondrial damage, post-injury repair, and the roles of mitochondria in various tissues of the eye. In the following sections, the potential for treating glaucoma by reducing mitochondrial damage and promoting post-injury repair is also discussed.


Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 7
Author(s):  
Dong-Hoon Hyun ◽  
Jaewang Lee

Neurodegenerative diseases are accompanied by oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction, leading to a progressive loss of neuronal cells, formation of protein aggregates, and a decrease in cognitive or motor functions. Mitochondrial dysfunction occurs at the early stage of neurodegenerative diseases. Protein aggregates containing oxidatively damaged biomolecules and other misfolded proteins and neuroinflammation have been identified in animal models and patients with neurodegenerative diseases. A variety of neurodegenerative diseases commonly exhibits decreased activity of antioxidant enzymes, lower amounts of antioxidants, and altered cellular signalling. Although several molecules have been approved clinically, there is no known cure for neurodegenerative diseases, though some drugs are focused on improving mitochondrial function. Mitochondrial dysfunction is caused by oxidative damage and impaired cellular signalling, including that of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1α. Mitochondrial function can also be modulated by mitochondrial biogenesis and the mitochondrial fusion/fission cycle. Mitochondrial biogenesis is regulated mainly by sirtuin 1, NAD+, AMP-activated protein kinase, mammalian target of rapamycin, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ. Altered mitochondrial dynamics, such as increased fission proteins and decreased fusion products, are shown in neurodegenerative diseases. Due to the restrictions of a target-based approach, a phenotype-based approach has been performed to find novel proteins or pathways. Alternatively, plasma membrane redox enzymes improve mitochondrial function without the further production of reactive oxygen species. In addition, inducers of antioxidant response elements can be useful to induce a series of detoxifying enzymes. Thus, redox homeostasis and metabolic regulation can be important therapeutic targets for delaying the progression of neurodegenerative diseases.


Author(s):  
Valentina Nicoletti ◽  
Giovanni Palermo ◽  
Eleonora Del Prete ◽  
Michelangelo Mancuso ◽  
Roberto Ceravolo

As neurons are highly energy-demanding cell, increasing evidence suggests that mitochondria play a large role in several age-related neurodegenerative diseases. Synaptic damage and mitochondrial dysfunction have been associated with early events in the pathogenesis of major neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s disease, atypical parkinsonisms, and Huntington disease. Disruption of mitochondrial structure and dynamic is linked to increased levels of reactive oxygen species production, abnormal intracellular calcium levels, and reduced mitochondrial ATP production. However, recent research has uncovered a much more complex involvement of mitochondria in such disorders than has previously been appreciated, and a remarkable number of genes and proteins that contribute to the neurodegeneration cascade interact with mitochondria or affect mitochondrial function. In this review, we aim to summarize and discuss the deep interconnections between mitochondrial dysfunction and basal ganglia disorders, with an emphasis into the molecular triggers to the disease process. Understanding the regulation of mitochondrial pathways may be beneficial in finding pharmacological or non-pharmacological interventions to delay the onset of neurodegenerative diseases.


2013 ◽  
Vol 55 ◽  
pp. 119-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernadette Carroll ◽  
Graeme Hewitt ◽  
Viktor I. Korolchuk

Autophagy is a process of lysosome-dependent intracellular degradation that participates in the liberation of resources including amino acids and energy to maintain homoeostasis. Autophagy is particularly important in stress conditions such as nutrient starvation and any perturbation in the ability of the cell to activate or regulate autophagy can lead to cellular dysfunction and disease. An area of intense research interest is the role and indeed the fate of autophagy during cellular and organismal ageing. Age-related disorders are associated with increased cellular stress and assault including DNA damage, reduced energy availability, protein aggregation and accumulation of damaged organelles. A reduction in autophagy activity has been observed in a number of ageing models and its up-regulation via pharmacological and genetic methods can alleviate age-related pathologies. In particular, autophagy induction can enhance clearance of toxic intracellular waste associated with neurodegenerative diseases and has been comprehensively demonstrated to improve lifespan in yeast, worms, flies, rodents and primates. The situation, however, has been complicated by the identification that autophagy up-regulation can also occur during ageing. Indeed, in certain situations, reduced autophagosome induction may actually provide benefits to ageing cells. Future studies will undoubtedly improve our understanding of exactly how the multiple signals that are integrated to control appropriate autophagy activity change during ageing, what affect this has on autophagy and to what extent autophagy contributes to age-associated pathologies. Identification of mechanisms that influence a healthy lifespan is of economic, medical and social importance in our ‘ageing’ world.


2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (20) ◽  
pp. 2283-2302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vivian B. Neis ◽  
Priscila B. Rosa ◽  
Morgana Moretti ◽  
Ana Lucia S. Rodrigues

Heme oxygenase (HO) family catalyzes the conversion of heme into free iron, carbon monoxide and biliverdin. It possesses two well-characterized isoforms: HO-1 and HO-2. Under brain physiological conditions, the expression of HO-2 is constitutive, abundant and ubiquitous, whereas HO-1 mRNA and protein are restricted to small populations of neurons and neuroglia. HO-1 is an inducible enzyme that has been shown to participate as an essential defensive mechanism for neurons exposed to oxidant challenges, being related to antioxidant defenses in certain neuropathological conditions. Considering that neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and Multiple Sclerosis (MS)) and neuropsychiatric disorders (depression, anxiety, Bipolar Disorder (BD) and schizophrenia) are associated with increased inflammatory markers, impaired redox homeostasis and oxidative stress, conditions that may be associated with alterations in HO-levels/activity, the purpose of this review is to present evidence on the possible role of HO-1 in these Central Nervous System (CNS) diseases. In addition, the possible therapeutic potential of targeting brain HO-1 is explored in this review.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vaibhav S. Marde ◽  
Prerna L. Tiwari ◽  
Nitu L. Wankhede ◽  
Brijesh G. Taksande ◽  
Aman B. Upaganlawar ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Over the last decade, aggregating evidences suggested that there is a causative link between mutation in gene associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and development of several neurodegenerative disorders. Main text Recent structural and functional studies associated with mitochondrial genes have shown that mitochondrial abnormalities possibly lead to mitochondrial dysfunction. Several studies on animal models of neurodegenerative diseases and mitochondrial genes have provided compelling evidence that mitochondria is involved in the initiation as well as progression of diseases such as Parkinson’s disease (PD), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Huntington’s disease (HD), and Friedreich ataxia (FA). Conclusion In this mini-review, we have discussed the different etiologic and pathogenesis connected with the mitochondrial dysfunction and relevant neurodegenerative diseases that underlie the dominant part of mitochondrial genes in the disease development and its progress.


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