Trehalose Ameliorates Diabetic Cardiomyopathy: Role of the PK2/PKR Pathway

Alimentary Treatment with Trehalose in a Pharmacological Model of Alzheimer's Disease in Mice: Effects of Different Dosages and Treatment Regimens

In the treatment of experimental neurodegeneration with disaccharide trehalose, various regimens are used, predominantly a 2% solution, drunk for several weeks. We studied the effects of different regimens of dietary trehalose treatment in an amyloid-β (Aβ) 25-35-induced murine model of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Aβ-treated mice received 2% trehalose solution daily, 4% trehalose solution daily (continuous mode) or every other day (intermittent mode), to drink for two weeks. We revealed the dose-dependent effects on autophagy activation in the frontal cortex and hippocampus, and the restoration of behavioral disturbances. A continuous intake of 4% trehalose solution caused the greatest activation of autophagy and the complete recovery of step-through latency in the passive avoidance test that corresponds to associative long-term memory and learning. This regimen also produced an anxiolytic effect in the open field. The effects of all the regimens studied were similar in Aβ load, neuroinflammatory response, and neuronal density in the frontal cortex and hippocampus. Trehalose successfully restored these parameters to the levels of the control group. Thus, high doses of trehalose had increased efficacy towards cognitive impairment in a model of early AD-like pathology. These findings could be taken into account for translational studies and the development of clinical approaches for AD therapy using trehalose.

Targeting autophagy in diabetic cardiomyopathy: From molecular mechanisms to pharmacotherapy

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a cardiac microvascular complication caused by metabolic disorders. It is characterized by myocardial remodeling and dysfunction. The pathogenesis of DCM is associated with abnormal cellular metabolism and organelle accumulation. Autophagy is thought to play a key role in the diabetic heart, and a growing body of research suggests that modulating autophagy may be a potential therapeutic strategy for DCM. Here, we have summarized the major signaling pathways involved in the regulation of autophagy in DCM, including Adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), Forkhead box subfamily O proteins (FOXOs), Sirtuins (SIRTs), and PTEN-inducible kinase 1 (PINK1)/Parkin. Given the significant role of autophagy in DCM, we further identified natural products and chemical drugs as regulators of autophagy in the treatment of DCM. This review may help to better understand the autophagy mechanism of drugs for DCM and promote their clinical application.

A neuroprotective dose of trehalose is harmless to metabolic organs: comprehensive histopathological analysis of liver, pancreas, and kidney

BACKGROUND

Trehalose is a non-reducing disaccharide synthesized by lower organisms. It has recently received special attention because of its neuroprotective properties by stimulating autophagy in Parkinson's disease (PD) models. Therefore, evaluating whether trehalose affects metabolic organs is vital to determine its neurotherapeutic safety.

METHODS

We validated the trehalose neuroprotective dosage in a PD model induced with intraperitoneal paraquat administration twice weekly for 7 weeks. One week before paraquat administration, mice were treated with trehalose in the drinking water and continued along with paraquat treatment. Histological and morphometrical analyses were conducted on the organs involved in trehalose metabolism, including the liver, pancreas, and kidney.

RESULTS

Paraquat-induced dopaminergic neuronal loss was significantly decreased by trehalose. After trehalose treatment, the liver morphology, the mononucleated/binucleated hepatocytes percentage, and sinusoidal diameter remained unchanged in each liver lobes. Endocrine and exocrine pancreas's histology was not affected, nor was any fibrotic process observed. The islet of Langerhans's structure was preserved when analyzing the area, the largest and smallest diameter, and circularity. Renal morphology remained undamaged, and no changes were identified within the glomerular basement membrane. The renal corpuscle structure did not suffer alterations in the Bowman's space, area, diameter, circularity, perimeter, and cellularity. Besides, the renal tubular structures's luminal area and internal and external diameter were preserved.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrates that systemic trehalose administration preserved the typical histological architecture of the organs involved in its metabolism, supporting its safety as a potential neuroprotective agent.

Autophagy in Heart Failure: Insights into Mechanisms and Therapeutic Implications

Autophagy, a dynamic and complex process responsible for the clearance of damaged cellular components, plays a crucial role in maintaining myocardial homeostasis. In the context of heart failure, autophagy has been recognized as a response mechanism aimed at counteracting pathogenic processes and promoting cellular health. Its relevance has been underscored not only in various animal models, but also in the human heart. Extensive research efforts have been dedicated to understanding the significance of autophagy and unravelling its complex molecular mechanisms. This review aims to consolidate the current knowledge of the involvement of autophagy during the progression of heart failure. Specifically, we provide a comprehensive overview of published data on the impact of autophagy deregulation achieved by genetic modifications or by pharmacological interventions in ischemic and non-ischemic models of heart failure. Furthermore, we delve into the intricate molecular mechanisms through which autophagy regulates crucial cellular processes within the three predominant cell populations of the heart: cardiomyocytes, cardiac fibroblasts, and endothelial cells. Finally, we emphasize the need for future research to unravel the therapeutic potential associated with targeting autophagy in the management of heart failure.

The potential therapeutic impacts of trehalose on cardiovascular diseases as the environmental-influenced disorders: An overview of contemporary findings

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) as environmental-influenced disorders, are a major concern and the leading cause of death worldwide. A range of therapeutic approaches has been proposed, including conventional and novel methods. Natural compounds offer a promising alternative for CVD treatment due to their ability to regulate molecular pathways with minimal adverse effects. Trehalose is natural compound and disaccharide with unique biological functions and cardio-protective properties. The cardio-protective effects of trehalose are generated through its ability to induce autophagy, which is mediated by the transcription factors TFEB and FOXO1. The stimulation of TFEB plays a significant role in regulating autophagy genes and autophagosome formation. Activation of FOXO1 through dephosphorylation of Foxo1 and blocking of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) also triggers autophagy dramatically. Trehalose has been shown to reduce CVD risk factors, including atherosclerosis, cardiac remodeling after a heart attack, cardiac dysfunction, high blood pressure, and stroke. It also reduces structural abnormalities of mitochondria, cytokine production, vascular inflammation, cardiomyocyte apoptosis, and pyroptosis. This review provides a molecular overview of trehalose's cardioprotective functions, including its mechanisms of autophagy and its potential to improve CVD symptoms based on clinical evidence.

Non-Peptide Agonists and Antagonists of the Prokineticin Receptors

The prokineticin family comprises a group of secreted peptides that can be classified as chemokines based on their structural features and chemotactic and immunomodulatory functions. Prokineticins (PKs) bind with high affinity to two G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Prokineticin receptor 1 (PKR1) and prokineticin receptor 2 (PKR2) are involved in a variety of physiological functions such as angiogenesis and neurogenesis, hematopoiesis, the control of hypothalamic hormone secretion, the regulation of circadian rhythm and the modulation of complex behaviors such as feeding and drinking. Dysregulation of the system leads to an inflammatory process that is the substrate for many pathological conditions such as cancer, pain, neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. The use of PKR's antagonists reduces PK2/PKRs upregulation triggered by various inflammatory processes, suggesting that a pharmacological blockade of PKRs may be a successful strategy to treat inflammatory/neuroinflammatory diseases, at least in rodents. Under certain circumstances, the PK system exhibits protective/neuroprotective effects, so PKR agonists have also been developed to modulate the prokineticin system.

Disaccharide Trehalose in Experimental Therapies for Neurodegenerative Disorders: Molecular Targets and Translational Potential

Induction of autophagy is a prospective approach to the treatment of neurodegeneration. In the recent decade, trehalose attracted special attention. It is an autophagy inducer with negligible adverse effects and is approved for use in humans according to FDA requirements. Trehalose has a therapeutic effect in various experimental models of diseases. This glucose disaccharide with a flexible α-1-1'-glycosidic bond has unique properties: induction of mTOR-independent autophagy (with kinase AMPK as the main target) and a chaperone-like effect on proteins imparting them natural spatial structure. Thus, it can reduce the accumulation of neurotoxic aberrant/misfolded proteins. Trehalose has an anti-inflammatory effect and inhibits detrimental oxidative stress partially owing to the enhancement of endogenous antioxidant defense represented by the Nrf2 protein. The disaccharide activates lysosome and autophagosome biogenesis pathways through the protein factors TFEB and FOXO1. Here we review various mechanisms of the neuroprotective action of trehalose and touch on the possibility of pleiotropic effects. Current knowledge about specific features of trehalose pharmacodynamics is discussed. The neuroprotective effects of trehalose in animal models of major neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's diseases are examined too. Attention is given to translational transition to clinical trials of this drug, especially oral and parenteral routes of administration. Besides, the possibility of enhancing the therapeutic benefit via a combination of mTOR-dependent and mTOR-independent autophagy inducers is analyzed. In general, trehalose appears to be a promising multitarget tool for the inhibition of experimental neurodegeneration and requires thorough investigation of its clinical capabilities.