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Eskandari S, Rezayof A, Asghari SM, Hashemizadeh S. Neurobiochemical characteristics of arginine-rich peptides explain their potential therapeutic efficacy in neurodegenerative diseases. Neuropeptides 2023; 101:102356. [PMID: 37390744 DOI: 10.1016/j.npep.2023.102356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer̕ s disease (AD), Parkinson̕ s disease (PD), Huntington̕ s disease (HD), and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) require special attention to find new potential treatment methods. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge of the relationship between the biochemical properties of arginine-rich peptides (ARPs) and their neuroprotective effects to deal with the harmful effects of risk factors. It seems that ARPs have portrayed a promising and fantastic landscape for treating neurodegeneration-associated disorders. With multimodal mechanisms of action, ARPs play various unprecedented roles, including as the novel delivery platforms for entering the central nervous system (CNS), the potent antagonists for calcium influx, the invader molecules for targeting mitochondria, and the protein stabilizers. Interestingly, these peptides inhibit the proteolytic enzymes and block protein aggregation to induce pro-survival signaling pathways. ARPs also serve as the scavengers of toxic molecules and the reducers of oxidative stress agents. They also have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anti-cancer properties. Moreover, by providing an efficient nucleic acid delivery system, ARPs can play an essential role in developing various fields, including gene vaccines, gene therapy, gene editing, and imaging. ARP agents and ARP/cargo therapeutics can be raised as an emergent class of neurotherapeutics for neurodegeneration. Part of the aim of this review is to present recent advances in treating neurodegenerative diseases using ARPs as an emerging and powerful therapeutic tool. The applications and progress of ARPs-based nucleic acid delivery systems have also been discussed to highlight their usefulness as a broad-acting class of drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sedigheh Eskandari
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran; Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB), University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ameneh Rezayof
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
| | - S Mohsen Asghari
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB), University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Shiva Hashemizadeh
- School of Cognitive Sciences, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences, IPM, Tehran, Iran
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Stepanichev M, Aniol V, Lazareva N, Gulyaeva N. Decreased Hippocampal Neurogenesis in Aged Male Wistar Rats Is Not Associated with Memory Acquisition in a Water Maze. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13276. [PMID: 37686083 PMCID: PMC10487931 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain aging is associated with a progressive decrease in learning abilities, memory, attention, decision making, and sensory perception. Age-related cognitive disturbances may be related to a decrease in the functional capacities of the hippocampus. This brain region is essential for learning and memory, and the lifelong neurogenesis occurring in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus may be a key event mediating the mnemonic functions of the hippocampus. In the present study, we investigated whether age-related changes in hippocampal neurogenesis are associated with learning and memory disturbances. Four- and 24-month-old rats were trained to find a hidden platform in a water maze. Though the older group showed higher latency to search the platform as compared to the younger group, both groups learned the task. However, the density of proliferating (PCNA-positive), differentiating (Dcx-positive), and new neurons (pre-labeled BrdU-positive) was significantly lower in the hippocampus of aged rats as compared to young ones. This inhibition of neurogenesis could be related to increased local production of nitric oxide since the density of neurons expressing neuronal NO-synthase was higher in the aged hippocampus. Thus, we can suggest that an age-related decrease in neurogenesis is not directly associated with place learning in aged rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikhail Stepanichev
- Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Butlerova Str., 5a, Moscow 117485, Russia; (V.A.); (N.L.); (N.G.)
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Jiao L, Xu T, Du X, Chen X, Jiao Q, Jiang H. The Inhibition Effects of Sodium Nitroprusside on the Survival of Differentiated Neural Stem Cells through the p38 Pathway. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13030438. [PMID: 36979248 PMCID: PMC10046126 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13030438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 02/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Nitric oxide (NO) is a crucial factor in regulating neuronal development. However, certain effects of NO are complex under different physiological conditions. In this study, we used differentiated neural stem cells (NSCs), which contained neural progenitor cells, neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes, to observe the physiological effects of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) on the early developmental stage of the nervous system. After SNP treatment for 24 h, the results showed that SNP at 100 μM, 200 μM, 300 μM, and 400 μM concentrations resulted in reduced cell viability and increased cleaved caspase 3 levels, while no significant changes were found at 50 μM. There were no effects on neuronal differentiation in the SNP-treated groups. The phosphorylation of p38 was also significantly upregulated with SNP concentrations of 100 μM, 200 μM, 300 μM, and 400 μM, with no changes for 50 μM concentration in comparison with the control. We also observed that the levels of phosphorylation increased with the increasing concentration of SNP. To further explore the possible role of p38 in SNP-regulated survival of differentiated NSCs, SB202190, the antagonist of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, at a concentration of 10 mM, was pretreated for 30 min, and the ratio of phosphorylated p38 was found to be decreased after treatment with SNP. Survival and cell viability increased in the SB202190 and SNP co-treated group. Taken together, our results suggested that p38 is involved in the cell survival of NSCs, regulated by NO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingling Jiao
- Department of Physiology, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders, State Key Disciplines: Physiology, Shandong Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center for Neurodegenerative Disorders, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Tongying Xu
- Department of Physiology, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders, State Key Disciplines: Physiology, Shandong Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center for Neurodegenerative Disorders, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Xixun Du
- Department of Physiology, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders, State Key Disciplines: Physiology, Shandong Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center for Neurodegenerative Disorders, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Xi Chen
- Department of Physiology, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders, State Key Disciplines: Physiology, Shandong Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center for Neurodegenerative Disorders, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Qian Jiao
- Department of Physiology, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders, State Key Disciplines: Physiology, Shandong Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center for Neurodegenerative Disorders, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
- Correspondence:
| | - Hong Jiang
- Department of Physiology, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders, State Key Disciplines: Physiology, Shandong Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center for Neurodegenerative Disorders, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
- College of Health and Life Science, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China
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Singh S. Updates on Versatile Role of Putative Gasotransmitter Nitric Oxide: Culprit in Neurodegenerative Disease Pathology. ACS Chem Neurosci 2020; 11:2407-2415. [PMID: 32564594 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.0c00230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Nitric oxide (NO) is a versatile gasotransmitter that contributes in a range of physiological and pathological mechanims depending on its cellular levels. An appropriate concentration of NO is essentially required for cellular physiology; however, its increased level triggers pathological mechanisms like altered cellular redox regulation, functional impairment of mitochondrion, and modifications in cellular proteins and DNA. Its increased levels also exhibit post-translational modifications in protein through S-nitrosylation of their thiol amino acids, which critically affect the cellular physiology. Along with such modifications, NO could also nitrosylate the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-membrane located sensors of ER stress, which subsequently affect the cellular protein degradation capacity and lead to aggregation of misfolded/unfolded proteins. Since protein aggregation is one of the pathological hallmarks of neurodegenerative disease, NO should be taken into account during development of disease therapies. In this Review, we shed light on the diverse role of NO in both cellular physiology and pathology and discussed its involvement in various pathological events in the context of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarika Singh
- Department of Neurosciences and Ageing Biology and Division of Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226031, India
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Guerrieri D, van Praag H. Exercise-mimetic AICAR transiently benefits brain function. Oncotarget 2016; 6:18293-313. [PMID: 26286955 PMCID: PMC4621892 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.4715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2015] [Accepted: 07/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Exercise enhances learning and memory in animals and humans. The role of peripheral factors that may trigger the beneficial effects of running on brain function has been sparsely examined. In particular, it is unknown whether AMP-kinase (AMPK) activation in muscle can predict enhancement of brain plasticity. Here we compare the effects of running and administration of AMPK agonist 5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide 1-β-D-ribofuranoside (AICAR, 500 mg/kg), for 3, 7 or 14 days in one-month-old male C57BL/6J mice, on muscle AMPK signaling. At the time-points where we observed equivalent running- and AICAR-induced muscle pAMPK levels (7 and 14 days), cell proliferation, synaptic plasticity and gene expression, as well as markers of oxidative stress and inflammation in the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus and lateral entorhinal cortex (LEC) were evaluated. At the 7-day time-point, both regimens increased new DG cell number and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein levels. Furthermore, microarray analysis of DG and LEC tissue showed a remarkable overlap between running and AICAR in the regulation of neuronal, mitochondrial and metabolism related gene classes. Interestingly, while similar outcomes for both treatments were stable over time in muscle, in the brain an inversion occurred at fourteen days. The compound no longer increased DG cell proliferation or neurotrophin levels, and upregulated expression of apoptotic genes and inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β. Thus, an exercise mimetic that produces changes in muscle consistent with those of exercise does not have the same sustainable positive effects on the brain, indicating that only running consistently benefits brain function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Guerrieri
- Neuroplasticity and Behavior Unit, Laboratory of Neurosciences, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Henriette van Praag
- Neuroplasticity and Behavior Unit, Laboratory of Neurosciences, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Nasyrova RF, Ivashchenko DV, Ivanov MV, Neznanov NG. Role of nitric oxide and related molecules in schizophrenia pathogenesis: biochemical, genetic and clinical aspects. Front Physiol 2015; 6:139. [PMID: 26029110 PMCID: PMC4426711 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2015.00139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2014] [Accepted: 04/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently, schizophrenia is considered a multifactorial disease. Over the past 50 years, many investigators have considered the role of toxic free radicals in the etiology of schizophrenia. This is an area of active research which is still evolving. Here, we review the recent data and current concepts on the roles of nitric oxide (NO) and related molecules in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. NO is involved in storage, uptake and release of mediators and neurotransmitters, including glutamate, acetylcholine, noradrenaline, GABA, taurine and glycine. In addition, NO diffuses across cell membranes and activates its own extrasynaptic receptors. Further, NO is involved in peroxidation and reactive oxidative stress. Investigations reveal significant disturbances in NO levels in the brain structures (cerebellum, hypothalamus, hippocampus, striatum) and fluids of subjects with schizophrenia. Given the roles of NO in central nervous system development, these changes may result in neurodevelopmental changes associated with schizophrenia. We describe here the recent literature on NOS gene polymorphisms on schizophrenia, which all point to consistent results. We also discuss how NO may be a new target for the therapy of mental disorders. Currently there have been 2 randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trials of L-lysine as an NOS inhibitor in the CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Regina F Nasyrova
- V.M. Bekhterev Saint Petersburg Psychoneurological Research Institute Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Dmitriy V Ivashchenko
- V.M. Bekhterev Saint Petersburg Psychoneurological Research Institute Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Mikhail V Ivanov
- V.M. Bekhterev Saint Petersburg Psychoneurological Research Institute Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Nikolay G Neznanov
- V.M. Bekhterev Saint Petersburg Psychoneurological Research Institute Saint Petersburg, Russia
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