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Wijesinghe P, Whitmore CA, Campbell M, Li C, Tsuyuki M, To E, Haynes J, Pham W, Matsubara JA. Ergothioneine, a dietary antioxidant improves amyloid beta clearance in the neuroretina of a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1107436. [PMID: 36998724 PMCID: PMC10043244 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1107436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
IntroductionErgothioneine (Ergo) is a naturally occurring dietary antioxidant. Ergo uptake is dependent on the transporter, organic cation transporter novel-type 1 (OCTN1) distribution. OCTN1 is highly expressed in blood cells (myeloid lineage cells), brain and ocular tissues that are likely predisposed to oxidative stress. Ergo may protect the brain and eye against oxidative damage and inflammation, however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Amyloid beta (Aβ) clearance is a complex process mediated by various systems and cell types including vascular transport across the blood–brain barrier, glymphatic drainage, and engulfment and degradation by resident microglia and infiltrating innate immune cells. Impaired Aβ clearance is a major cause for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Here we investigated neuroretinas to explore the neuroprotective effect of Ergo in a transgenic AD mouse model.MethodsAge-matched groups of Ergo-treated 5XFAD, non-treated 5XFAD, and C57BL/6J wildtype (WT controls) were used to assess Ergo transporter OCTN1 expression and Aβ load along with microglia/macrophage (IBA1) and astrocyte (GFAP) markers in wholemount neuroretinas (n = 26) and eye cross-sections (n = 18). Immunoreactivity was quantified by fluorescence or by semi-quantitative assessments.Results and discussionOCTN1 immunoreactivity was significantly low in the eye cross-sections of Ergo-treated and non-treated 5XFAD vs. WT controls. Strong Aβ labeling, detected in the superficial layers in the wholemounts of Ergo-treated 5XFAD vs. non-treated 5XFAD reflects the existence of an effective Aβ clearance system. This was supported by imaging of cross-sections where Aβ immunoreactivity was significantly low in the neuroretina of Ergo-treated 5XFAD vs. non-treated 5XFAD. Moreover, semi-quantitative analysis in wholemounts identified a significantly reduced number of large Aβ deposits or plaques, and a significantly increased number of IBA1(+)ve blood-derived phagocytic macrophages in Ergo-treated 5XFAD vs. non-treated 5XFAD. In sum, enhanced Aβ clearance in Ergo-treated 5XFAD suggests that Ergo uptake may promote Aβ clearance possibly by blood-derived phagocytic macrophages and via perivascular drainage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Printha Wijesinghe
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Eye Care Centre, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Clayton A. Whitmore
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Matthew Campbell
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Eye Care Centre, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Charles Li
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Eye Care Centre, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Miranda Tsuyuki
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Eye Care Centre, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Eleanor To
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Eye Care Centre, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Justin Haynes
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Wellington Pham
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Joanne A. Matsubara
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Eye Care Centre, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Joanne A. Matsubara,
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Protective Effect of Ergothioneine Against Stroke in Rodent Models. Neuromolecular Med 2022:10.1007/s12017-022-08727-w. [PMID: 36261765 DOI: 10.1007/s12017-022-08727-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Ergothioneine (ET) is a naturally occurring antioxidant and cytoprotective agent that is synthesized by fungi and certain bacteria. Recent studies have shown a beneficial effect of ET on neurological functions, including cognition and animal models of depression. The aim of this study is to elucidate a possible effect of ET in rodent models of stroke. Post-ischemic intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) infusion of ET significantly reduced brain infarct volume by as early as 1 day after infusion in rats, as shown by triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) assay. There was a dose-dependent increase in protection, from 50 to 200 ng of ET infusion. These results suggest that ET could have a protective effect on CNS neurons. We next elucidated the effect of systemic ET on brain infarct volume in mice after stroke. Daily i.p. injection of 35 mg/kg ET (the first dose being administered 3 h after stroke) had no significant effect on infarct volume. However, daily i.p. injections of 70 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, 125 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg ET, with the first dose administered 3 h after stroke, significantly decreased infarct volume at 7 days after vessel occlusion in mice. In order to elucidate at what time interval during the 7 days there could be effective protection, a second set of experiments was carried out in mice, using one of the effective loading protocols, i.e. 125 mg/kg i.p. ET but the brains were analyzed at 1, 4 and 7 days post-stroke by MRI. We found that ET was already protective against neuronal injury and decreased the size of the brain infarct from as early as 1 day post-stroke. Behavioral experiments carried out on a third set of mice (using 125 mg/kg i.p. ET) showed that this was accompanied by significant improvements in certain behaviors (pole test) at 1 day after stroke. Together, results of this study indicate that i.c.v. and systemic ET are effective in reducing brain infarct volume after stroke in rodent models.
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Whitmore CA, Haynes JR, Behof WJ, Rosenberg AJ, Tantawy MN, Hachey BC, Wadzinski BE, Spiller BW, Peterson TE, Paffenroth KC, Harrison FE, Beelman RB, Wijesinghe P, Matsubara JA, Pham W. Longitudinal Consumption of Ergothioneine Reduces Oxidative Stress and Amyloid Plaques and Restores Glucose Metabolism in the 5XFAD Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15060742. [PMID: 35745661 PMCID: PMC9228400 DOI: 10.3390/ph15060742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Ergothioneine (ERGO) is a unique antioxidant and a rare amino acid available in fungi and various bacteria but not in higher plants or animals. Substantial research data indicate that ERGO is a physiological antioxidant cytoprotectant. Different from other antioxidants that need to breach the blood-brain barrier to enter the brain parenchyma, a specialized transporter called OCTN1 has been identified for transporting ERGO to the brain. Purpose: To assess whether consumption of ERGO can prevent the progress of Alzheimer's disease (AD) on young (4-month-old) 5XFAD mice. Methods and materials: Three cohorts of mice were tested in this study, including ERGO-treated 5XFAD, non-treated 5XFAD, and WT mice. After the therapy, the animals went through various behavioral experiments to assess cognition. Then, mice were scanned with PET imaging to evaluate the biomarkers associated with AD using [11C]PIB, [11C]ERGO, and [18F]FDG radioligands. At the end of imaging, the animals went through cardiac perfusion, and the brains were isolated for immunohistology. Results: Young (4-month-old) 5XFAD mice did not show a cognitive deficit, and thus, we observed modest improvement in the treated counterparts. In contrast, the response to therapy was clearly detected at the molecular level. Treating 5XFAD mice with ERGO resulted in reduced amyloid plaques, oxidative stress, and rescued glucose metabolism. Conclusions: Consumption of high amounts of ERGO benefits the brain. ERGO has the potential to prevent AD. This work also demonstrates the power of imaging technology to assess response during therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clayton A. Whitmore
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; (C.A.W.); (J.R.H.); (W.J.B.); (A.J.R.); (M.N.T.); (T.E.P.)
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Justin R. Haynes
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; (C.A.W.); (J.R.H.); (W.J.B.); (A.J.R.); (M.N.T.); (T.E.P.)
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - William J. Behof
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; (C.A.W.); (J.R.H.); (W.J.B.); (A.J.R.); (M.N.T.); (T.E.P.)
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Adam J. Rosenberg
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; (C.A.W.); (J.R.H.); (W.J.B.); (A.J.R.); (M.N.T.); (T.E.P.)
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Mohammed N. Tantawy
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; (C.A.W.); (J.R.H.); (W.J.B.); (A.J.R.); (M.N.T.); (T.E.P.)
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Brian C. Hachey
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA;
| | - Brian E. Wadzinski
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37233, USA; (B.E.W.); (B.W.S.); (K.C.P.)
| | - Benjamin W. Spiller
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37233, USA; (B.E.W.); (B.W.S.); (K.C.P.)
| | - Todd E. Peterson
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; (C.A.W.); (J.R.H.); (W.J.B.); (A.J.R.); (M.N.T.); (T.E.P.)
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Krista C. Paffenroth
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37233, USA; (B.E.W.); (B.W.S.); (K.C.P.)
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA;
| | - Fiona E. Harrison
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA;
- Department of Medicine, Diabetes, Endocrinology & Metabolism, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer’s Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37212, USA
| | - Robert B. Beelman
- Department of Food Science, Center for Plant and Mushroom Foods for Health, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA;
| | - Printha Wijesinghe
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V5Z 3N9, Canada; (P.W.); (J.A.M.)
| | - Joanne A. Matsubara
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V5Z 3N9, Canada; (P.W.); (J.A.M.)
| | - Wellington Pham
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; (C.A.W.); (J.R.H.); (W.J.B.); (A.J.R.); (M.N.T.); (T.E.P.)
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA;
- Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer’s Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37212, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
- Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Institute of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
- Correspondence:
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