Rotenone-induced oxidative stress in THP-1 cells: biphasic effects of baicalin

Cannabinol Regulates the Expression of Cell Cycle-Associated Genes in Motor Neuron-like NSC-34: A Transcriptomic Analysis

Cannabinoids are reported to have neuroprotective properties and play a role in neurogenesis and neuroplasticity in in vitro and in vivo models. Cannabinol (CBN) is a minor cannabinoid produced by the degradation of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol in Cannabis sativa L. and exhibits anti-oxidant, analgesic, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we explored the biological effects of 20 µM CBN (6.20 µg/mL) on differentiated NSC-34 cells by MTT assay and next-generation sequencing analysis on the transcriptome. KEGG and Gene Ontology enrichment analyses have been performed to evaluate potential CBN-associated processes. Our results highlighted the absence of any cytotoxic effect of CBN. The comparative transcriptomic analysis pointed out the downregulation of Cdkn2a, Cdkn2c and Cdkn2d genes, which are known to suppress the cell cycle. Ccne2, Cdk2, Cdk7, Anapc11, Anapc10, Cdc23, Cdc16, Anapc4, Cdc27, Stag1, Smc3, Smc1a, Nipbl, Pds5a, Pds5b, and Wapl genes, renowned for their role as cell cycle progression activators, were instead upregulated. Our work suggests that CBN regulates the expression of many genes related to the cell cycle, which are required for axonal maturation, migration, and synaptic plasticity, while not affecting the expression of genes involved in cell death or tumorigenesis.

Syagrus coronata fixed oil prevents rotenone-induced movement disorders and oxidative stress in Drosophila melanogaster

One prominent aspect of Parkinson's disease (PD) is the presence of elevated levels of free radicals, including reactive oxygen species (ROS). Syagrus coronata (S. coronata), a palm tree, exhibits antioxidant activity attributed to its phytochemical composition, containing fatty acids, polyphenols, and flavonoids. The aim of this investigation was to examine the potential neuroprotective effects of S. coronata fixed oil against rotenone-induced toxicity using Drosophila melanogaster. Young Drosophila specimens (3-4 d old) were exposed to a diet supplemented with rotenone (50 µM) for 7 d with and without the inclusion of S. coronata fixed oil (0.2 mg/g diet). Data demonstrated that rotenone exposure resulted in significant locomotor impairment and increased mortality rates in flies. Further, rotenone administration reduced total thiol levels but elevated lipid peroxidation, iron (Fe) levels, and nitric oxide (NO) levels while decreasing the reduced capacity of mitochondria. Concomitant administration of S. coronata exhibited a protective effect against rotenone, as evidenced by a return to control levels of Fe, NO, and total thiols, lowered lipid peroxidation levels, reversed locomotor impairment, and enhanced % cell viability. Molecular docking of the oil lipidic components with antioxidant enzymes showed strong binding affinity to superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX1) enzymes. Overall, treatment with S. coronata fixed oil was found to prevent rotenone-induced movement disorders and oxidative stress in Drosophila melanogaster.

Selection of suitable reference genes for gene expression studies in HMC3 cell line by quantitative real-time RT-PCR

Microglia represent the primary immune defense system within the central nervous system and play a role in the inflammatory processes occurring in numerous disorders, such as Parkinson's disease (PD). PD onset and progression are associated with factors considered possible causes of neuroinflammation, i.e. genetic mutations. In vitro models of microglial cells were established to identify specific molecular targets in PD through the analysis of gene expression data. Recently, the Human Microglial Clone 3 cell line (HMC3) has been characterized and a new human microglia model has emerged. Here we perform RT-qPCR analyses to evaluate the expression of ten reference genes in HMC3, untreated or stimulated to a pro-inflammatory status. The comparative ∆CT method, BestKeeper, Normfinder, geNorm and RefFinder algorithms were used to assess the stability of the candidate genes. The results showed that the most suitable internal controls are HPRT1, RPS18 and B2M genes. In addition, the most stable and unstable reference genes were used to normalize the expression of a gene of interest in HMC3, resulting in a difference in the statistical significance in cells treated with Rotenone. This is the first reference gene validation study in HMC3 cell line in pro-inflammatory status and can contribute to more reliable gene expression analysis in the field of neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory research.