Nitrosative stress mediated misfolded protein aggregation mitigated by Na-d-β-hydroxybutyrate intervention

Therapeutic potential of the ketogenic diet: A metabolic switch with implications for neurological disorders, the gut-brain axis, and cardiovascular diseases

The Ketogenic Diet (KD) is a dietary regimen that is low in carbohydrates, high in fats, and contains adequate protein. It is designed to mimic the metabolic state of fasting. This diet triggers the production of ketone bodies through a process known as ketosis. The primary objective of KD is to induce and sustain ketosis, which has been associated with numerous health benefits. Recent research has uncovered promising therapeutic potential for KD in the treatment of various diseases. This includes evidence of its effectiveness as a dietary strategy for managing intractable epilepsy, a form of epilepsy that is resistant to medication. We are currently assessing the efficacy and safety of KD through laboratory and clinical studies. This review focuses on the anti-inflammatory properties of the KD and its potential benefits for neurological disorders and the gut-brain axis. We also explore the existing literature on the potential effects of KD on cardiac health. Our aim is to provide a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge in these areas. Given the encouraging preliminary evidence of its therapeutic effects and the growing understanding of its mechanisms of action, randomized controlled trials are warranted to further explore the rationale behind the clinical use of KD. These trials will ultimately enhance our understanding of how KD functions and its potential benefits for various health conditions. We hope that our research will contribute to the body of knowledge in this field and provide valuable insights for future studies.

An 11-mer Amyloid Beta Peptide Fragment Provokes Chemical Mutations and Parkinsonian Biomarker Aggregation in Dopaminergic Cells: A Novel Road Map for "Transfected" Parkinson's

Amyloid beta (Aβ) aggregation is generally associated with Alzheimer's onset. Here, we demonstrate that incubation of dopaminergic SH-SY5Y cells with an Aβ peptide fragment (an 11-mer composed of residues 25-35; Aβ (25-35)) results in elevated intracellular nitrosative stress and induces chemical mutation of protein disulfide isomerase (PDI), an endoplasmic reticulum-resident oxidoreductase chaperone. Furthermore, Aβ (25-35) provokes aggregation of both the minor and major biomarkers of Parkinson's disease, namely, synphilin-1 and α-synuclein, respectively. Importantly, fluorescence studies demonstrate that Aβ (25-35) triggers colocalization of these Parkinsonian biomarkers to form Lewy-body-like aggregates, a key and irreversible milestone in the neurometabolic cascade leading to Parkinson's disease. In addition, fluorescence assays also reveal direct, aggregation-seeding interactions between Aβ (25-35), PDI and α-synuclein, suggesting neuronal pathogenesis occurs via prion-type cross-transfectivity. These data indicate that the introduction of an Alzheimer's-associated biomarker in dopaminergic cells is proliferative, with the percolative effect exercised via dual, independent, Parkinson-pathogenic pathways, one stress-derived and the other prion-like. The results define a novel molecular roadmap for Parkinsonian transfectivity via an Alzheimeric burden and reveal the involvement of PDI in amyloid beta induced Parkinson's.

ER Protein Processing Under Oxidative Stress: Implications and Prevention

Elevated levels of mitochondrial nitrosative stress have been associated with the pathogenesis of both Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. The mechanism involves catalytic poisoning of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident oxidoreductase chaperone, protein disulfide isomerase (PDI), and the subsequent accumulation of ER-processed substrate proteins. Using a model system to mimic mitochondrial oxidative and nitrosative stress, we demonstrate a PDI-independent mechanism whereby reactive oxygen species (ROS) compromise regeneration rates of disulfide bond-containing ER-processed proteins. Under ROS-duress, the secretion-destined traffic adopts disulfide-exposed structures making the protein flux retrotranslocation biased. We also demonstrate that ROS-compromised protein maturation rates can be rescued by the polyphenol ellagic acid (EA). Our results are significant in that they reveal an additional mechanism which could promote neurodegenerative disorders. Furthermore, our data reveal that EA possesses therapeutic potential as a lead prophylactic agent against oxidative/nitrosative stress-related neurodegenerative diseases.

Ellagic acid mitigates SNO-PDI induced aggregation of Parkinsonian biomarkers

Nitrosative stress mediated S-nitrosylation (SNO) of protein disulfide isomerase (PDI), a housekeeping oxidoreductase, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of sporadic Parkinson's (PD) and Alzheimer's (AD) diseases. Previous cell line studies have indicated that SNO-PDI formation provokes synphilin-1 aggregation, the minor Parkinsonian biomarker protein. Yet no work exists investigating whether SNO-PDI induces α-synuclein aggregation, the major Lewy body constituent associated with Parkinson's pathogenesis. Here, we report that SNO-PDI formation is linked to the aggregation of α-synuclein and also provokes α-synuclein:synphilin-1 deposits (Lewy-body-like debris) normally found in the PD brain. Furthermore, we have examined the ability of a small molecule, 2,3,7,8-tetrahydroxy-chromeno[5,4,3-cde]chromene-5,10-dione (ellagic acid; EA) to scavenge NOx radicals and to protect cells from SNO-PDI formation via rotenone insult both, cell-based and cell-independent in vitro experiments. Furthermore, EA not only mitigates nitrosative-stress-induced aggregation of synphilin-1 but also α-synuclein and α-synuclein:synphilin-1 composites (Lewy-like neurites) in PC12 cells. Mechanistic analyses of the neuroprotective phenomena revealed that EA lowered rotenone-instigated reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) in PC12 cells, imparted antiapoptotic tributes, and directly interfered with SNO-PDI formation. Lastly, we demonstrate that EA can bind human serum albumin (HSA). These results collectively indicate that small molecules can provide a therapeutic foothold for overcoming Parkinson's through a prophylactic approach.