scholarly journals Key Mechanisms and Potential Implications of Hericium erinaceus in NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation by Reactive Oxygen Species during Alzheimer’s Disease

Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1664
Author(s):  
Marika Cordaro ◽  
Angela Trovato Salinaro ◽  
Rosalba Siracusa ◽  
Ramona D’Amico ◽  
Daniela Impellizzeri ◽  
...  

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the principal cause of dementia, and its incidence increases with age. Altered antioxidant systems and inflammation have an important role in the etiology of neurodegenerative disorders. In this study, we evaluated the effects of Hericium erinaceus, a nutritional mushroom with important antioxidant effects, in a rat model of AD. Animals were injected with 70 mg/Kg of AlCl3 daily for 6 weeks, and Hericium erinaceus was administered daily by gavage. Before the experiment’s end date, behavioral test training was performed. At the end of the study, behavioral changes were assessed, and the animals were euthanized. Brain tissues were harvested for further analysis. AlCl3 mainly accumulates in the hippocampus, the principal region of the brain involved in memory functions and learning. Hericium erinaceus administration reduced behavioral changes and hippocampal neuronal degeneration. Additionally, it reduced phosphorylated Tau levels, aberrant APP overexpression, and β-amyloid accumulation. Moreover, Hericium erinaceus decreased the pro-oxidative and pro-inflammatory hippocampal alterations induced by AD. In particular, it reduced the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome components, usually activated by increased oxidative stress during AD. Collectively, our results showed that Hericium erinaceus has protective effects on behavioral alteration and histological modification associated with AD due to the modulation of the oxidative and inflammatory pathways, as well as regulating cellular brain stress.

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 779
Author(s):  
Pradeep K. Shukla ◽  
David F. Delotterie ◽  
Jianfeng Xiao ◽  
Joseph F. Pierre ◽  
RadhaKrishna Rao ◽  
...  

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by memory loss and cognitive decline, is a major cause of death and disability among the older population. Despite decades of scientific research, the underlying etiological triggers are unknown. Recent studies suggested that gut microbiota can influence AD progression; however, potential mechanisms linking the gut microbiota with AD pathogenesis remain obscure. In the present study, we provided a potential mechanistic link between dysbiotic gut microbiota and neuroinflammation associated with AD progression. Using a mouse model of AD, we discovered that unfavorable gut microbiota are correlated with abnormally elevated expression of gut NLRP3 and lead to peripheral inflammasome activation, which in turn exacerbates AD-associated neuroinflammation. To this end, we observe significantly altered gut microbiota compositions in young and old 5xFAD mice compared to age-matched non-transgenic mice. Moreover, 5xFAD mice demonstrated compromised gut barrier function as evident from the loss of tight junction and adherens junction proteins compared to non-transgenic mice. Concurrently, we observed increased expression of NLRP3 inflammasome and IL-1β production in the 5xFAD gut. Consistent with our hypothesis, increased gut–microbial–inflammasome activation is positively correlated with enhanced astrogliosis and microglial activation, along with higher expression of NLRP3 inflammasome and IL-1β production in the brains of 5xFAD mice. These data indicate that the elevated expression of gut–microbial–inflammasome components may be an important trigger for subsequent downstream activation of inflammatory and potentially cytotoxic mediators, and gastrointestinal NLRP3 may promote NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated neuroinflammation. Thus, modulation of the gut microbiota may be a potential strategy for the treatment of AD-related neurological disorders in genetically susceptible hosts.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Zi-Huan Zhang ◽  
Jia-Qiang Liu ◽  
Cheng-Di Hu ◽  
Xin-Tong Zhao ◽  
Fei-Yun Qin ◽  
...  

Luteolin (LUT) possesses multiple biologic functions and has beneficial effects for cardiovascular and cerebral vascular diseases. Here, we investigated the protective effects of LUT against subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and the involvement of underlying molecular mechanisms. In a rat model of SAH, LUT significantly inhibited SAH-induced neuroinflammation as evidenced by reduced microglia activation, decreased neutrophil infiltration, and suppressed proinflammatory cytokine release. In addition, LUT markedly ameliorated SAH-induced oxidative damage and restored the endogenous antioxidant systems. Concomitant with the suppressed oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, LUT significantly improved neurologic function and reduced neuronal cell death after SAH. Mechanistically, LUT treatment significantly enhanced the expression of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), while it downregulated nod-like receptor pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation. Inhibition of Nrf2 by ML385 dramatically abrogated LUT-induced Nrf2 activation and NLRP3 suppression and reversed the beneficial effects of LUT against SAH. In neurons and microglia coculture system, LUT also mitigated oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and neuronal degeneration. These beneficial effects were associated with activation of the Nrf2 and inhibitory effects on NLRP3 inflammasome and were reversed by ML385 treatment. Taken together, this present study reveals that LUT confers protection against SAH by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway, which may be modulated by Nrf2 activation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. P646-P646
Author(s):  
Francesca La Rosa ◽  
Marina Saresella ◽  
Federica Piancone ◽  
Ivana Marventano ◽  
Roberta Mancuso ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel C. Shippy ◽  
Connor Wilhelm ◽  
Patel A. Viharkumar ◽  
Thomas J. Raife ◽  
Tyler K. Ulland

Abstract Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive, late-onset dementia with no effective treatment available. Recent studies suggest that AD pathology is driven by age-related changes in metabolism. Alterations in metabolism, such as placing patients on a ketogenic diet, can alter cognition by an unknown mechanism. One of the ketone bodies produced as a result of ketogenesis, β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), is known to inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Therefore, we tested if BHB inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome reduces overall AD pathology in the 5XFAD mouse model of AD. Here, we find BHB levels are lower in red blood cells and brain parenchyma of AD patients when compared with non-AD controls. Furthermore, exogenous BHB administration reduced plaque formation, microgliosis, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (Asc) speck formation, and caspase-1 activation in the 5XFAD mouse model of AD. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that BHB reduces AD pathology by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Additionally, our data suggest dietary or pharmacological approaches to increase BHB levels as promising therapeutic strategies for AD.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saifudeen Ismael ◽  
Sanaz Nasoohi ◽  
Arum Yoo ◽  
Lexiao Li ◽  
Khurram Aslam ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Immune system hypersensitivity with aging is believed to contribute to mental frailty in elderlies. This is postulated to arise from accumulation of oxidative molecular patterns. Solid evidences delineates thioredoxin interacting protein (TXNIP), an inducible protein involved in oxidative stress, is essential for NOD-like receptor pyrin domain containing-3 (NLRP3)-inflammasome activation which intimately connects “inflammaging” to senile cognitive decline. This study aims to fundamentally explore the plausible involvement of TXNIP/NLRP3 inflammasome pathway in senile dementia and the typical Alzhemier’s disease. Methods In experimental studies cerebral samples from gender-matched mice were compared for TXNIP/NLRP3 inflammasome activation and klotho depletion, through immunoblotting and immunostaining in different life span points. In aged males, genetic or pharmacological ablation of TXNIP were then used to determine effects on cognitive decline and sensorimotor frailty in morris water maze, novel object recognition test and gait control analysis. Immunoblotting/staining experiments were also performed on human postmortem aged hippocampal specimens and 5XFAD transgenic mice, to ultimately address Alzheimer’s disease (AD) as the most age related dementia. Results According to our preclinical studies, cerebral TXNIP was significantly upregulated in aged animals, paralleled by the NLRP3-inflammasome over-activity in both sexes, and closely associated klotho depletion in aged males. TXNIP knock-out reversed age-related NLRP3-hyperactivity and enhanced thioredoxin (TRX) levels in aged brains. Further, pharmacological TXNIP inhibition replicated the TXNIP/NLRP3-inflammasome downregulation in aged animals, with FOXO-1 and mTOR upregulation. These alterations concurred with substantial improvements in both cognitive and sensorimotor abilities. Moreover, our immunostaining shows a significant increase of TXNIP in transgenic 5XFAD mice brain and TXNIP/NLRP3-inflammasome activity in AD human postmortem hippocampal specimens, in proximity of p-tau tangles and β-amyloid plaques. Conclusion Together, these findings substantiate the pivotal role of TXNIP to drive inflammging in parallel with klotho depletion and functional decline. TXNIP co-localization with hallmarks of AD pathology is further supportive of potential mechanistic links between TXNIP and AD. Unraveling new information on upstream pathways, these data support modulating thioredoxin system as a potential approach to decelerate senile frailty.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 1187
Author(s):  
Francesca La Rosa ◽  
Roberta Mancuso ◽  
Simone Agostini ◽  
Federica Piancone ◽  
Ivana Marventano ◽  
...  

Activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome complex results in the production of IL-18, Caspase-1 and IL-1β. These cytokines have a beneficial role in promoting inflammation, but an excessive activation of the inflammasome and the consequent constitutive inflammatory status is a negative factor in human pathologies including Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). MicroRNAs (miR-NAs) target the 3′UTR region of NLRP3, preventing the activation of the inflammasome and inhibiting cytokine production. Because Stavudine (D4T), an antiretroviral drug, was recently shown to reduce inflammasome activation, we verified whether its effect is mediated by miR-7-5p, miR-22-3p, miR-30e-5p and miR-223-3p: miRNAs that bind the NLRP3-mRNA-UTR region and interfere with protein translation, reducing NLRP3 activation. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of twenty AD patients and ten sex-matched Healthy Controls (HC) were stimulated with Lipopolysaccharides (LPS)+Amyloid-beta (Aβ42) in the absence/presence of D4T. Expression of genes within the inflammasome complex and of miRNAs was evaluated by RT-PCR; cytokines and caspase-1 production was measured by ELISA. Results have shown that: NLRP3, ASC, IL-1β and IL-18 expression, as well as IL-18, IL-1β and caspase-1 production, were significantly augmented (p < 0.05) in LPS+Aβ42-stimulated PBMCs of AD patients compared to HC. D4T reduced the expression of inflammasome genes and cytokine production (p < 0.005). miR-7-5p and miR-223-3p expression was significantly increased in LPS+Aβ42-stimulated PBMCs of AD patients (p < 0.05), and it was reduced by D4T in AD alone. In conclusion: miR-223-3p and mir-7-5p expression is increased in AD, but this does not result in down-regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome expression and of IL-1β and IL-18 production. D4T increased miRNA expression in HC but had an opposite effect in AD, suggesting that miRNA regulatory mechanisms are altered in AD.


Antioxidants ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 124
Author(s):  
Takumi Satoh ◽  
Dorit Trudler ◽  
Chang-Ki Oh ◽  
Stuart A. Lipton

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis [family Lamiaceae]), an herb of economic and gustatory repute, is employed in traditional medicines in many countries. Rosemary contains carnosic acid (CA) and carnosol (CS), abietane-type phenolic diterpenes, which account for most of its biological and pharmacological actions, although claims have also been made for contributions of another constituent, rosmarinic acid. This review focuses on the potential applications of CA and CS for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), in part via inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome. CA exerts antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects via phase 2 enzyme induction initiated by activation of the KEAP1/NRF2 transcriptional pathway, which in turn attenuates NLRP3 activation. In addition, we propose that CA-related compounds may serve as therapeutics against the brain-related after-effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection, termed “long-COVID.” One factor that contributes to COVID-19 is cytokine storm emanating from macrophages as a result of unregulated inflammation in and around lung epithelial and endovascular cells. Additionally, neurological aftereffects such as anxiety and “brain fog” are becoming a major issue for both the pandemic and post-pandemic period. Many reports hold that unregulated NLRP3 inflammasome activation may potentially contribute to the severity of COVID-19 and its aftermath. It is therefore possible that suppression of NLRP3 inflammasome activity may prove efficacious against both acute lung disease and chronic neurological after-effects. Because CA has been shown to not only act systemically but also to penetrate the blood–brain barrier and reach the brain parenchyma to exert neuroprotective effects, we discuss the evidence that CA or rosemary extracts containing CA may represent an effective countermeasure against both acute and chronic pathological events initiated by SARS-CoV-2 infection as well as other chronic neurodegenerative diseases including AD and PD.


2021 ◽  
pp. 105104
Author(s):  
Saifudeen Ismael ◽  
Wajidunnisa ◽  
Kazuko Sakata ◽  
Michael P. McDonald ◽  
Francesca-Fang Liao ◽  
...  

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