scholarly journals Exploring the Use of Dimethyl Fumarate as Microglia Modulator for Neurodegenerative Diseases Treatment

Antioxidants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 700
Author(s):  
Maria Rosito ◽  
Claudia Testi ◽  
Giacomo Parisi ◽  
Barbara Cortese ◽  
Paola Baiocco ◽  
...  

The maintenance of redox homeostasis in the brain is critical for the prevention of the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Drugs acting on brain redox balance can be promising for the treatment of neurodegeneration. For more than four decades, dimethyl fumarate (DMF) and other derivatives of fumaric acid ester compounds have been shown to mitigate a number of pathological mechanisms associated with psoriasis and relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). Recently, DMF has been shown to exert a neuroprotective effect on the central nervous system (CNS), possibly through the modulation of microglia detrimental actions, observed also in multiple brain injuries. In addition to the hypothesis that DMF is linked to the activation of NRF2 and NF-kB transcription factors, the neuroprotective action of DMF may be mediated by the activation of the glutathione (GSH) antioxidant pathway and the regulation of brain iron homeostasis. This review will focus on the role of DMF as an antioxidant modulator in microglia processes and on its mechanisms of action in the modulation of different pathways to attenuate neurodegenerative disease progression.

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (34) ◽  
pp. 5790-5828 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ze Wang ◽  
Chunyang He ◽  
Jing-Shan Shi

Neurodegenerative diseases are a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by the progressive degeneration of the structure and function of the central nervous system or peripheral nervous system. Alzheimer's Disease (AD), Parkinson's Disease (PD) and Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) are the common neurodegenerative diseases, which typically occur in people over the age of 60. With the rapid development of an aged society, over 60 million people worldwide are suffering from these uncurable diseases. Therefore, the search for new drugs and therapeutic methods has become an increasingly important research topic. Natural products especially those from the Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCMs), are the most important sources of drugs, and have received extensive interest among pharmacist. In this review, in order to facilitate further chemical modification of those useful natural products by pharmacists, we will bring together recent studies in single natural compound from TCMs with neuroprotective effect.


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.


Biomolecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonia Cianciulli ◽  
Chiara Porro ◽  
Rosa Calvello ◽  
Teresa Trotta ◽  
Dario Domenico Lofrumento ◽  
...  

Immune activation in the central nervous system involves mostly microglia in response to pathogen invasion or tissue damage, which react, promoting a self-limiting inflammatory response aimed to restore homeostasis. However, prolonged, uncontrolled inflammation may result in the production by microglia of neurotoxic factors that lead to the amplification of the disease state and tissue damage. In particular, specific inducers of inflammation associated with neurodegenerative diseases activate inflammatory processes that result in the production of a number of mediators and cytokines that enhance neurodegenerative processes. Phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks) constitute a family of enzymes regulating a wide range of activity, including signal transduction. Recent studies have focused attention on the intracellular role of PI3K and its contribution to neurodegenerative processes. This review illustrates and discusses recent findings about the role of this signaling pathway in the modulation of microglia neuroinflammatory responses linked to neurodegeneration. Finally, we discuss the modulation of PI3K as a potential therapeutic approach helpful for developing innovative therapeutic strategies in neurodegenerative diseases.


Beverages ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 99
Author(s):  
Tatiane Gabardo ◽  
Marina Rocha Frusciante ◽  
Jessica Pereira Marinho ◽  
Manuela dos Santos ◽  
Ana Abujamra ◽  
...  

Considering that grape juice has high levels of phenolic compounds that produce beneficial physiological effects, important for the maintenance of redox balance, the aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro neuroprotective effect of purple grape juice on the oxidative damage caused by temozolomide (TMZ) in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum of Wistar rats. In pre-incubation, TMZ increased thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum, enhanced protein oxidation in all tissues studied, increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the hippocampus, decreased SOD activity in the cerebellum, and enhanced catalase (CAT) activity in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum. In co-incubation, there was enhanced protein oxidation in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum, decreased SOD activity in the cerebellum, inhibition of CAT activity in the hippocampus, and increased CAT activity in the cerebellum. Purple grape juice improved these oxidative alterations. Therefore, the intake of grape juice might have a protective effect against diseases that affect the oxidative status of the central nervous system.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 3064
Author(s):  
Youngpyo Nam ◽  
Gyeong Joon Moon ◽  
Sang Ryong Kim

Neurotrophic factors (NTFs) are essential for cell growth, survival, synaptic plasticity, and maintenance of specific neuronal population in the central nervous system. Multiple studies have demonstrated that alterations in the levels and activities of NTFs are related to the pathology and symptoms of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease (PD), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and Huntington’s disease. Hence, the key molecule that can regulate the expression of NTFs is an important target for gene therapy coupling adeno-associated virus vector (AAV) gene. We have previously reported that the Ras homolog protein enriched in brain (Rheb)–mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) axis plays a vital role in preventing neuronal death in the brain of AD and PD patients. AAV transduction using a constitutively active form of Rheb exerts a neuroprotective effect through the upregulation of NTFs, thereby promoting the neurotrophic interaction between astrocytes and neurons in AD conditions. These findings suggest the role of Rheb as an important regulator of the regulatory system of NTFs to treat neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we present an overview of the role of Rheb in neurodegenerative diseases and summarize the therapeutic potential of AAV serotype 1 (AAV1)-Rheb(S16H) transduction in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, focusing on diseases, such as AD and PD.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 130-146
Author(s):  
Afshin Montazeri ◽  
Milad Akhlaghi ◽  
Ahmad Reza Barahimi ◽  
Ali Jahanbazi Jahan Abad ◽  
Reza Jabbari ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luyao Huo ◽  
Xinzhe Du ◽  
Xinrong Li ◽  
Sha Liu ◽  
Yong Xu

Intercellular communication in the central nervous system (CNS) is essential for brain growth, development, and homeostasis maintenance and, when dysfunctional, is involved in the occurrence and development of neurodegenerative diseases. Increasing evidence indicates that extracellular vesicles, especially exosomes, are critical mediators of intercellular signal transduction. Under physiological and pathological conditions, neural cells secret exosomes with the influence of many factors. These exosomes can carry specific proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and other bioactive substances to the recipient cells to regulate their function. Depending on the CNS environment, as well as the origin and physiological or pathological status of parental cells, exosomes can mediate a variety of different effects, including synaptic plasticity, nutritional metabolic support, nerve regeneration, inflammatory response, anti-stress effect, cellular waste disposal, and the propagation of toxic components, playing an important role in health and neurodegenerative diseases. This review will discuss the possible roles of exosomes in CNS intercellular communication in both physiologic and neurodegenerative conditions.


2022 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 60
Author(s):  
Helenita C. Quadros ◽  
Mariana C. B. Silva ◽  
Diogo R. M. Moreira

Plasmodium has evolved to regulate the levels and oxidative states of iron protoporphyrin IX (Fe-PPIX). Antimalarial endoperoxides such as 1,2,4-trioxane artemisinin and 1,2,4-trioxolane arterolane undergo a bioreductive activation step mediated by heme (FeII-PPIX) but not by hematin (FeIII-PPIX), leading to the generation of a radical species. This can alkylate proteins vital for parasite survival and alkylate heme into hematin–drug adducts. Heme alkylation is abundant and accompanied by interconversion from the ferrous to the ferric state, which may induce an imbalance in the iron redox homeostasis. In addition to this, hematin–artemisinin adducts antagonize the spontaneous biomineralization of hematin into hemozoin crystals, differing strikingly from artemisinins, which do not directly suppress hematin biomineralization. These hematin–drug adducts, despite being devoid of the peroxide bond required for radical-induced alkylation, are powerful antiplasmodial agents. This review addresses our current understanding of Fe-PPIX as a bioreductive activator and molecular target. A compelling pharmacological model is that by alkylating heme, endoperoxide drugs can cause an imbalance in the iron homeostasis and that the hematin–drug adducts formed have strong cytocidal effects by possibly reproducing some of the toxifying effects of free Fe-PPIX. The antiplasmodial phenotype and the mode of action of hematin–drug adducts open new possibilities for reconciliating the mechanism of endoperoxide drugs and for malaria intervention.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Saade ◽  
Giovanna Araujo de Souza ◽  
Cristoforo Scavone ◽  
Paula Fernanda Kinoshita

Inflammation is a response to a lesion in the tissue or infection. This process occurs in a specific manner in the central nervous system and is called neuroinflammation, which is involved in neurodegenerative diseases. GPNMB, an endogenous glycoprotein, has been recently related to inflammation and neuroinflammation. GPNMB is highly expressed in macrophages and microglia, which are cells involved with innate immune response in the periphery and the brain, respectively. Some studies have shown increased levels of GPNMB in pro-inflammatory conditions, such as LPS treatment, and in pathological conditions, such as neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. However, the role of GPNMB in inflammation is still not clear. Even though most studies suggest that GPNMB might have an anti-inflammatory role by promoting inflammation resolution, there is evidence that GPNMB could be pro-inflammatory. In this review, we gather and discuss the published evidence regarding this interaction.


Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1501
Author(s):  
Julia Kaźmierczak-Barańska ◽  
Karolina Boguszewska ◽  
Angelika Adamus-Grabicka ◽  
Bolesław T. Karwowski

Vitamin C has been known for decades. It is common in everyday use as an element of the diet, supplementation, and a preservative. For years, research has been conducted to precisely determine the mechanism of action of ascorbate in the cell. Available results indicate its multi-directional cellular effects. Vitamin C, which belongs to antioxidants scavenging free radicals, also has a ‘second face’—as a pro-oxidative factor. However, whether is the latter nature a defect harmful to the cell, or whether a virtue that is a source of benefit? In this review, we discuss the effects of vitamin C treatment in cancer prevention and the role of ascorbate in maintaining redox balance in the central nervous system (CNS). Finally, we discuss the effect of vitamin C supplementation on biomarkers of oxidative DNA damage and review the evidence that vitamin C has radioprotective properties.


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