scholarly journals L-Arginine Exerts Excellent Anti-Stress Effects on Stress-Induced Shortened Lifespan, Cognitive Decline and Depression

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 508
Author(s):  
Monira Pervin ◽  
Keiko Unno ◽  
Tomokazu Konishi ◽  
Yoriyuki Nakamura
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Damage ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Daily Intake ◽  
Stress Effect ◽  
Stress Effects ◽  
Mitochondrial Functions ◽  
Excitotoxic Cell Death ◽  
Reducing Stress ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Gene Expression Levels

The anti-stress potential of dietary L-arginine (Arg) was assessed in psychosocially stress-loaded senescence-accelerated (SAMP10) mice. Although this strain of mouse is sensitive to stress, daily administration of Arg at 3 mg/kg significantly suppressed aging-related cognitive decline and behavioral depression at nine months of age and counteracted stress-induced shortened lifespan. To investigate the mechanism of the anti-stress effect of Arg in the brain, early changes in oxidative damage and gene expression levels were measured using SAMP10 mice that were stress-loaded for three days. Increased lipid peroxidation in the brains of stressed mice was significantly lowered by Arg intake. Several genes associated with oxidative stress response and neuronal excitotoxic cell death, including Nr4a1, Arc, and Cyr61, remarkably increased in response to psychosocial stress; however, their expression was significantly suppressed in mice that ingested Arg even under stress conditions. In contrast, the genes that maintain mitochondrial functions and neuronal survival, including Hba-a2 and Hbb-b2, were significantly increased in mice that ingested Arg. These results indicate that Arg reduces oxidative damage and enhances mitochondrial functions in the brain. We suggest that the daily intake of Arg plays important roles in reducing stress-induced brain damage and slowing aging.

scholarly journals Alternative splicing during mammalian organ development

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pavel V. Mazin ◽  
Philipp Khaitovich ◽  
Margarida Cardoso-Moreira ◽  
Henrik Kaessmann
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Alternative Splicing ◽  
Regulatory Networks ◽  
Organ Development ◽  
Functional Diversification ◽  
Mammalian Genomes ◽  
Species Comparisons ◽  
Time Specific ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Gene Expression Levels

AbstractAlternative splicing (AS) is pervasive in mammalian genomes, yet cross-species comparisons have been largely restricted to adult tissues and the functionality of most AS events remains unclear. We assessed AS patterns across pre- and postnatal development of seven organs in six mammals and a bird. Our analyses revealed that developmentally dynamic AS events, which are especially prevalent in the brain, are substantially more conserved than nondynamic ones. Cassette exons with increasing inclusion frequencies during development show the strongest signals of conserved and regulated AS. Newly emerged cassette exons are typically incorporated late in testis development, but those retained during evolution are predominantly brain specific. Our work suggests that an intricate interplay of programs controlling gene expression levels and AS is fundamental to organ development, especially for the brain and heart. In these regulatory networks, AS affords substantial functional diversification of genes through the generation of tissue- and time-specific isoforms from broadly expressed genes.

scholarly journals Cognitive trajectories of patients with focal ß-amyloid deposition

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Si Eun Kim ◽  
Byungju Lee ◽  
Hyemin Jang ◽  
Juhee Chin ◽  
Ching Soong Khoo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Neuropsychological Tests ◽  
Mixed Effects ◽  
Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Emission Tomography ◽  
Amyloid Pet ◽  
Cognitive Level ◽  
Visual Rating ◽  
Positron Emission ◽  
The Brain

Abstract Background The presence of ß-amyloid (Aß) in the brain can be identified using amyloid PET. In clinical practice, the amyloid PET is interpreted based on dichotomous visual rating, which renders focal Aß accumulation be read as positive for Aß. However, the prognosis of patients with focal Aß deposition is not well established. Thus, we investigated cognitive trajectories of patients with focal Aß deposition. Methods We followed up 240 participants (112 cognitively unimpaired [CU], 78 amnestic mild cognitive impairment [aMCI], and 50 Alzheimer’s disease (AD) dementia [ADD]) for 2 years from 9 referral centers in South Korea. Participants were assessed with neuropsychological tests and 18F-flutemetamol (FMM) positron emission tomography (PET). Ten regions (frontal, precuneus/posterior cingulate (PPC), lateral temporal, parietal, and striatum of each hemisphere) were visually examined in the FMM scan, and participants were divided into three groups: No-FMM, Focal-FMM (FMM uptake in 1–9 regions), and Diffuse-FMM. We used mixed-effects model to investigate the speed of cognitive decline in the Focal-FMM group according to the cognitive level, extent, and location of Aß involvement, in comparison with the No- or Diffuse-FMM group. Results Forty-five of 240 (18.8%) individuals were categorized as Focal-FMM. The rate of cognitive decline in the Focal-FMM group was faster than the No-FMM group (especially in the CU and aMCI stage) and slower than the Diffuse-FMM group (in particular in the CU stage). Within the Focal-FMM group, participants with FMM uptake to a larger extent (7–9 regions) showed faster cognitive decline compared to those with uptake to a smaller extent (1–3 or 4–6 regions). The Focal-FMM group was found to have faster cognitive decline in comparison with the No-FMM when there was uptake in the PPC, striatum, and frontal cortex. Conclusions When predicting cognitive decline of patients with focal Aß deposition, the patients’ cognitive level, extent, and location of the focal involvement are important.

scholarly journals Tackling Dysfunction of Mitochondrial Bioenergetics in the Brain

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (15) ◽  
pp. 8325
Author(s):  
Paola Zanfardino ◽  
Stefano Doccini ◽  
Filippo M. Santorelli ◽  
Vittoria Petruzzella
Keyword(s):  
Human Brain ◽  
Basic Function ◽  
Mitochondrial Proteome ◽  
Novel Proteins ◽  
Mitochondrial Functions ◽  
Organ Specific ◽  
Oxphos System ◽  
Mitochondrial Defects ◽  
Energy Dependent ◽  
The Brain

Oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos) is the basic function of mitochondria, although the landscape of mitochondrial functions is continuously growing to include more aspects of cellular homeostasis. Thanks to the application of -omics technologies to the study of the OxPhos system, novel features emerge from the cataloging of novel proteins as mitochondrial thus adding details to the mitochondrial proteome and defining novel metabolic cellular interrelations, especially in the human brain. We focussed on the diversity of bioenergetics demand and different aspects of mitochondrial structure, functions, and dysfunction in the brain. Definition such as ‘mitoexome’, ‘mitoproteome’ and ‘mitointeractome’ have entered the field of ‘mitochondrial medicine’. In this context, we reviewed several genetic defects that hamper the last step of aerobic metabolism, mostly involving the nervous tissue as one of the most prominent energy-dependent tissues and, as consequence, as a primary target of mitochondrial dysfunction. The dual genetic origin of the OxPhos complexes is one of the reasons for the complexity of the genotype-phenotype correlation when facing human diseases associated with mitochondrial defects. Such complexity clinically manifests with extremely heterogeneous symptoms, ranging from organ-specific to multisystemic dysfunction with different clinical courses. Finally, we briefly discuss the future directions of the multi-omics study of human brain disorders.

scholarly journals The Role of Vitamin D as a Biomarker in Alzheimer’s Disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 334
Author(s):  
Giulia Bivona ◽  
Bruna Lo Sasso ◽  
Caterina Maria Gambino ◽  
Rosaria Vincenza Giglio ◽  
Concetta Scazzone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Vitamin D Levels ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Key Questions

Vitamin D and cognition is a popular association, which led to a remarkable body of literature data in the past 50 years. The brain can synthesize, catabolize, and receive Vitamin D, which has been proved to regulate many cellular processes in neurons and microglia. Vitamin D helps synaptic plasticity and neurotransmission in dopaminergic neural circuits and exerts anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective activities within the brain by reducing the synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the oxidative stress load. Further, Vitamin D action in the brain has been related to the clearance of amyloid plaques, which represent a feature of Alzheimer Disease (AD), by the immune cell. Based on these considerations, many studies have investigated the role of circulating Vitamin D levels in patients affected by a cognitive decline to assess Vitamin D’s eventual role as a biomarker or a risk factor in AD. An association between low Vitamin D levels and the onset and progression of AD has been reported, and some interventional studies to evaluate the role of Vitamin D in preventing AD onset have been performed. However, many pitfalls affected the studies available, including substantial discrepancies in the methods used and the lack of standardized data. Despite many studies, it remains unclear whether Vitamin D can have a role in cognitive decline and AD. This narrative review aims to answer two key questions: whether Vitamin D can be used as a reliable tool for diagnosing, predicting prognosis and response to treatment in AD patients, and whether it is a modifiable risk factor for preventing AD onset.

scholarly journals Bile Acids in Dementia: Brain Amyloid, White Matter Lesions, and Atrophy

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 767-768
Author(s):  
Vijay Varma ◽  
Youjin Wang ◽  
Yang An ◽  
Sudhir Varma ◽  
Murat Bilgel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Bile Acids ◽  
White Matter Lesions ◽  
Pharmacological Modulation ◽  
Dementia Risk ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Step Study ◽  
Brain Amyloid Deposition ◽  
Gene Expression Levels

Abstract While Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD) may be accelerated by hypercholesterolemia, the mechanisms underlying this association is unclear. Using a novel, 3-step study design we examined the role of cholesterol catabolism in dementia by testing whether 1) the synthesis of the primary cholesterol breakdown products (bile acids (BA)) were associated with neuroimaging markers of dementia; 2) pharmacological modulation of BAs alters dementia risk; and 3) brain BA concentrations and gene expression were associated with AD. We found that higher serum concentrations of BAs are associated with lower brain amyloid deposition, slower WML accumulation, and slower brain atrophy in males. Opposite effects were observed in females. Modulation of BA levels alters risk of incident VaD in males. Altered brain BA signaling at the metabolite and gene expression levels occurs in AD. Dysregulation of peripheral cholesterol catabolism and BA synthesis may impact dementia pathogenesis through signaling pathways in the brain.

scholarly journals Power Failure of Mitochondria and Oxidative Stress in Neurodegeneration and Its Computational Models

Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 229
Author(s):  
JunHyuk Woo ◽  
Hyesun Cho ◽  
YunHee Seol ◽  
Soon Ho Kim ◽  
Chanhyeok Park ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Mitochondrial Dysfunction ◽  
Computational Models ◽  
Neuronal Damage ◽  
Living Organism ◽  
The Body ◽  
Mitochondrial Functions ◽  
A Cell ◽  
The Brain ◽  
And Oxidative Stress

The brain needs more energy than other organs in the body. Mitochondria are the generator of vital power in the living organism. Not only do mitochondria sense signals from the outside of a cell, but they also orchestrate the cascade of subcellular events by supplying adenosine-5′-triphosphate (ATP), the biochemical energy. It is known that impaired mitochondrial function and oxidative stress contribute or lead to neuronal damage and degeneration of the brain. This mini-review focuses on addressing how mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress are associated with the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease. In addition, we discuss state-of-the-art computational models of mitochondrial functions in relation to oxidative stress and neurodegeneration. Together, a better understanding of brain disease-specific mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress can pave the way to developing antioxidant therapeutic strategies to ameliorate neuronal activity and prevent neurodegeneration.

scholarly journals Modafinil Effects on Behavior and Oxidative Damage Parameters in Brain of Wistar Rats

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felipe Ornell ◽  
Samira S. Valvassori ◽  
Amanda V. Steckert ◽  
Pedro F. Deroza ◽  
Wilson R. Resende ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Damage ◽  
Open Field ◽  
Wistar Rats ◽  
Thiobarbituric Acid ◽  
Protein Carbonyl ◽  
Behavioral Changes ◽  
Protein Damage ◽  
Behavioral Parameters ◽  
Carbonyl Formation ◽  
The Brain

The effects of modafinil (MD) on behavioral and oxidative damage to protein and lipid in the brain of rats were evaluated. Wistar rats were given a single administration by gavage of water or MD (75, 150, or 300 mg/kg). Behavioral parameters were evaluated in open-field apparatus 1, 2, and 3 h after drug administration. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and protein carbonyl formation were measured in the brain. MD increased locomotor activity at the highest dose 1 and 3 h after administration. MD administration at the dose of 300 mg/kg increased visits to the center of open-field 1 h after administration; however, 3 h after administration, all administered doses of MD increased visits to the open-field center. MD 300 mg/kg increased lipid damage in the amygdala, hippocampus, and striatum. Besides, MD increased protein damage in the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus; however, this effect varies depending on the dose administered. In contrast, the administration of MD 75 and 300 mg/kg decreased the protein damage in the striatum. This study demonstrated that the MD administration induces behavioral changes, which was depending on the dose used. In addition, the effects of MD on oxidative damage parameters seemed to be in specific brain region and doses.

Toluene-induced leukodystrophy from glue sniffing

2021 ◽  
pp. practneurol-2021-002942
Author(s):  
Yue Hui Lau ◽  
Ahmad Shahir Mawardi ◽  
Norzaini Rose Zain ◽  
Shanthi Viswanathan
Keyword(s):  
Basal Ganglia ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Early Recognition ◽  
Cerebellar Atrophy ◽  
Premature Mortality ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Brain

A 33-year-old man with a history of chronic toluene abuse through glue sniffing, developed tremors, cerebellar signs and cognitive decline. MR scan of the brain showed global cerebral and cerebellar atrophy with symmetrical T2-weighted hypointensities in the basal ganglia, thalami and midbrain. After stopping glue sniffing, his tremors, ataxia of gait, speech and cognition partially improved. Early recognition and intervention of toluene-induced leukodystrophy could prevent ongoing morbidity and premature mortality.

scholarly journals Mn Inhibits GSH Synthesis via Downregulation of Neuronal EAAC1 and Astrocytic xCT to Cause Oxidative Damage in the Striatum of Mice

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinxin Yang ◽  
Haibo Yang ◽  
Fengdi Wu ◽  
Zhipeng Qi ◽  
Jiashuo Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Oxidative Damage ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Protein Sulfhydryl ◽  
Mrna And Protein Expression ◽  
The Brain

Excessive manganese (Mn) can accumulate in the striatum of the brain following overexposure. Oxidative stress is a well-recognized mechanism in Mn-induced neurotoxicity. It has been proven that glutathione (GSH) depletion is a key factor in oxidative damage during Mn exposure. However, no study has focused on the dysfunction of GSH synthesis-induced oxidative stress in the brain during Mn exposure. The objective of the present study was to explore the mechanism of Mn disruption of GSH synthesis via EAAC1 and xCT in vitro and in vivo. Primary neurons and astrocytes were cultured and treated with different doses of Mn to observe the state of cells and levels of GSH and reactive oxygen species (ROS) and measure mRNA and protein expression of EAAC1 and xCT. Mice were randomly divided into seven groups, which received saline, 12.5, 25, and 50 mg/kg MnCl2, 500 mg/kg AAH (EAAC1 inhibitor) + 50 mg/kg MnCl2, 75 mg/kg SSZ (xCT inhibitor) + 50 mg/kg MnCl2, and 100 mg/kg NAC (GSH rescuer) + 50 mg/kg MnCl2 once daily for two weeks. Then, levels of EAAC1, xCT, ROS, GSH, malondialdehyde (MDA), protein sulfhydryl, carbonyl, 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), and morphological and ultrastructural features in the striatum of mice were measured. Mn reduced protein levels, mRNA expression, and immunofluorescence intensity of EAAC1 and xCT. Mn also decreased the level of GSH, sulfhydryl, and increased ROS, MDA, 8-OHdG, and carbonyl in a dose-dependent manner. Injury-related pathological and ultrastructure changes in the striatum of mice were significantly present. In conclusion, excessive exposure to Mn disrupts GSH synthesis through inhibition of EAAC1 and xCT to trigger oxidative damage in the striatum.

Analysis of tunnels in shaly rock considering three-dimensional stress effects on swelling

2005 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
B C Hawlader ◽  
K Y Lo ◽  
I D Moore
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element ◽  
Closed Form ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Principal Direction ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Closed Form Solution ◽  
Time Dependent ◽  
Stress Effect ◽  
Stress Effects ◽  
Laboratory Test Results

Underground structures in shales or shaly rocks endure time-dependent swelling effects. Laboratory test results show that the swelling of these shales is dependent on three-dimensional stresses; an external stress on a specimen in one principal direction reduces the swelling not only in that direction but also perpendicularly. The effectiveness of a time-dependent swelling model that considers the three-dimensional stress effect is presented in this paper. A finite element algorithm incorporating the new constitutive model is used for a numerical analysis. The finite element program is used to analyze two tunnels in southern Ontario: the Heart Lake storm sewer tunnel, and the Darlington cold-water intake tunnel. The predicted results agree well with the records of field performance of these tunnels. The comparison between present analyses and the existing closed-form solution shows that the existing solution overestimates the time-dependent swelling effects. The three-dimensional stress effects on swelling are not considered in the closed-form solutions and are the cause of this discrepancy. The pseudo-Poisson's effect is a key parameter for modelling the observed time-dependent swelling. The use of these solutions in design is discussed.Key words: time-dependent swelling, shale, modelling, three-dimensional stress effect, finite element method, tunnel.

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