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Bou Ghanem A, Hussayni Y, Kadbey R, Ratel Y, Yehya S, Khouzami L, Ghadieh HE, Kanaan A, Azar S, Harb F. Exploring the complexities of 1C metabolism: implications in aging and neurodegenerative diseases. Front Aging Neurosci 2024; 15:1322419. [PMID: 38239489 PMCID: PMC10794399 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1322419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The intricate interplay of one-carbon metabolism (OCM) with various cellular processes has garnered substantial attention due to its fundamental implications in several biological processes. OCM serves as a pivotal hub for methyl group donation in vital biochemical reactions, influencing DNA methylation, protein synthesis, and redox balance. In the context of aging, OCM dysregulation can contribute to epigenetic modifications and aberrant redox states, accentuating cellular senescence and age-associated pathologies. Furthermore, OCM's intricate involvement in cancer progression is evident through its capacity to provide essential one-carbon units crucial for nucleotide synthesis and DNA methylation, thereby fueling uncontrolled cell proliferation and tumor development. In neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, perturbations in OCM pathways are implicated in the dysregulation of neurotransmitter synthesis and mitochondrial dysfunction, contributing to disease pathophysiology. This review underscores the profound impact of OCM in diverse disease contexts, reinforcing the need for a comprehensive understanding of its molecular complexities to pave the way for targeted therapeutic interventions across inflammation, aging and neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayman Bou Ghanem
- Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of Balamand, Tripoli, Lebanon
| | - Yaman Hussayni
- Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of Balamand, Tripoli, Lebanon
| | - Raghid Kadbey
- Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of Balamand, Tripoli, Lebanon
| | - Yara Ratel
- Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of Balamand, Tripoli, Lebanon
| | - Shereen Yehya
- Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of Balamand, Tripoli, Lebanon
| | - Lara Khouzami
- College of Natural and Health Sciences, Zayed University, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Hilda E. Ghadieh
- Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of Balamand, Tripoli, Lebanon
- AUB Diabetes, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Amjad Kanaan
- Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of Balamand, Tripoli, Lebanon
| | - Sami Azar
- Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of Balamand, Tripoli, Lebanon
| | - Frederic Harb
- Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of Balamand, Tripoli, Lebanon
- AUB Diabetes, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
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Zhao Y, Dong X, Chen B, Zhang Y, Meng S, Guo F, Guo X, Zhu J, Wang H, Cui H, Li S. Blood levels of circulating methionine components in Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:934070. [PMID: 35936764 PMCID: PMC9354989 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.934070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundCirculating methionine components have been reported to be associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), although outcomes are not always consistent.Materials and methodsDatabase searching was conducted using PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science from inception to 26 December 2021. In this study, two reviewers independently identified eligible articles and extracted the data. We used Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal tools to assess the overall quality of the included studies. STATA software was employed to perform meta-analysis evaluating the standardized mean difference (SMD) with its 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using random-effects models. Evidence quality was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) criteria.ResultsTotally, 30 observational studies were eligible for inclusion. Compared with cognitively normal controls, patients with AD had increased homocysteine (Hcy) levels in the blood [standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.59, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.36–0.82, P = 0.000], plasma (SMD = 0.39, 95% CI: 0.23–0.55, P = 0.000), and serum (SMD = 1.56, 95% CI: 0.59–2.95, P = 0.002). Patients with MCI were not significantly different from controls (SMD = 0.26, 95% CI: –0.07–0.58, P = 0.127). Patients with AD or MCI did not significantly differ from controls of blood vitamin B12 levels, AD (SMD = –0.05, 95% CI: –0.19–0.08, P = 0.440), or MCI (SMD = 0.01, 95% CI: –0.16–0.17, P = 0.94). Some cohort studies have suggested that higher Hcy, methionine, and S-adenosylmethionine levels may accelerate cognitive decline in patients with MCI or AD, and vitamin B12 deficiency is a risk factor for the disease; however, the results of other studies were inconsistent. According to the GRADE system, all these outcomes scored very low to low quality, and no high-quality evidence was found.ConclusionOnly Hcy levels in the plasma and serum were found to be inversely related to the risk of AD. However, due to the low quality of supporting these results, high-quality studies are needed to verify these findings.Systematic Review Registrationhttp://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42022308961.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhao
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- School of Nursing, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Xinyi Dong
- School of Nursing, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Bingyu Chen
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Yizhou Zhang
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease Mechanism, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Sijia Meng
- School of Nursing, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Fangzhen Guo
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Xiaojing Guo
- School of Nursing, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Jialei Zhu
- School of Nursing, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Haoyue Wang
- School of Nursing, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Huixian Cui
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease Mechanism, Shijiazhuang, China
- Huixian Cui,
| | - Sha Li
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease Mechanism, Shijiazhuang, China
- The Key Laboratory of Neural and Vascular Biology of Ministry of Education, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- *Correspondence: Sha Li,
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Khan NH, Mir M, Ngowi EE, Zafar U, Khakwani MMAK, Khattak S, Zhai YK, Jiang ES, Zheng M, Duan SF, Wei JS, Wu DD, Ji XY. Nanomedicine: A Promising Way to Manage Alzheimer's Disease. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:630055. [PMID: 33996777 PMCID: PMC8120897 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.630055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating disease of the aging population characterized by the progressive and slow brain decay due to the formation of extracellular plaques in the hippocampus. AD cells encompass tangles of twisted strands of aggregated microtubule binding proteins surrounded by plaques. Delivering corresponding drugs in the brain to deal with these clinical pathologies, we face a naturally built strong, protective barrier between circulating blood and brain cells called the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Nanomedicines provide state-of-the-art alternative approaches to overcome the challenges in drug transport across the BBB. The current review presents the advances in the roles of nanomedicines in both the diagnosis and treatment of AD. We intend to provide an overview of how nanotechnology has revolutionized the approaches used to manage AD and highlight the current key bottlenecks and future perspective in this field. Furthermore, the emerging nanomedicines for managing brain diseases like AD could promote the booming growth of research and their clinical availability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazeer Hussain Khan
- Henan International Joint Laboratory for Nuclear Protein Regulation, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Maria Mir
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Ebenezeri Erasto Ngowi
- Henan International Joint Laboratory for Nuclear Protein Regulation, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Dar es Salaam University College of Education, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Ujala Zafar
- School of Natural Sciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | | | - Saadullah Khattak
- Henan International Joint Laboratory for Nuclear Protein Regulation, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Yuan-Kun Zhai
- Henan International Joint Laboratory for Nuclear Protein Regulation, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
- School of Stomatology, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - En-She Jiang
- Henan International Joint Laboratory for Nuclear Protein Regulation, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
- Institutes of Nursing and Health, School of Nursing and Health, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Meng Zheng
- International Joint Center for Biomedical Innovation, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Shao-Feng Duan
- Henan International Joint Laboratory for Nuclear Protein Regulation, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
- Institute for Innovative Drug Design and Evaluation, School of Pharmacy, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Jian-She Wei
- Henan International Joint Laboratory for Nuclear Protein Regulation, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
- Brain Research Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Dong-Dong Wu
- Henan International Joint Laboratory for Nuclear Protein Regulation, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
- School of Stomatology, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Xin-Ying Ji
- Henan International Joint Laboratory for Nuclear Protein Regulation, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
- Kaifeng Key Laboratory of Infection and Biological Safety, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
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Dogra A, Narang RS, Narang JK. Recent Advances in Nanotherapeutic Interventions for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease. Curr Pharm Des 2020; 26:2257-2279. [PMID: 32321393 DOI: 10.2174/1381612826666200422092620] [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] [Received: 11/16/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD), with impairment of learning and memory as the common clinical manifestations, is one of the most challenging diseases affecting individuals, their families and society as a whole. The fact that its prevalence is escalating rapidly, with the total number of AD patients estimated to reach 115.4 million by 2050, has made the disease a very challenging ailment worldwide. Several biological barriers like the bloodbrain barrier (BBB), drug efflux by P-glycoprotein and the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier restrict the delivery of conventional AD drugs to the central nervous system (CNS), thereby limiting their effectiveness. In order to overcome the above physiological barriers, the development of nanomedicines has been extensively explored. The present review provides an insight into the pathophysiology of AD and risk factors associated with AD. Besides, various nanoformulations reported in the literature for the diagnosis and treatments of AD have been classified and summarised. The patented nanoformulations for AD and details of nanoformulations which are in clinical trials are also mentioned. The review would be helpful to researchers and scientific community by providing them with information related to the recent advances in nanointerventions for the diagnosis and treatment of AD, which they can further explore for better management of the disease. However, although the nanotherapeutics for managing AD have been extensively explored, the factors which hinder their commercialisation, the toxicity concern being one of them, need to be addressed so that effective nanotherapeutics for AD can be developed for clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anmol Dogra
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Khalsa College of Pharmacy, Amritsar, Punjab, India.,I.K. Gujral Punjab Technical University, Kapurthala, Punjab, India
| | - R S Narang
- Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology and Microbiology, Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Dental Sciences and Research, Amritsar, Punjab, India
| | - Jasjeet K Narang
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Khalsa College of Pharmacy, Amritsar, Punjab, India
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Harilal S, Jose J, Parambi DGT, Kumar R, Mathew GE, Uddin MS, Kim H, Mathew B. Advancements in nanotherapeutics for Alzheimer’s disease: current perspectives. J Pharm Pharmacol 2019; 71:1370-1383. [DOI: 10.1111/jphp.13132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2019] [Accepted: 06/15/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Objectives
Considerable progress has been made in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but all available strategies focus on alleviating symptoms rather than curing, which means that AD is viewed as an unresolvable neurodegenerative disease. Nanotechnological applications offer an alternative platform for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. This review aims to summarize the recent nanomedicine and nanotechnology developments for the treatment of AD.
Key findings
A plethora of nanocarriers and nanoparticle prodrugs have been reported to have negligible cytotoxicity in animal models, and these developments have revealed new opportunities for development of new classes of potent drug formulations for AD. Different nanotechnology-based approaches such as polymers, emulsions, lipo-carriers, solid lipid carriers, carbon nanotubes and metal-based carriers have been developed over the past decade, and they have been focusing on both neuroprotective and neurogenerative techniques to treat AD. Studies also reveal that nanotechnological approaches can aid in early diagnosis of AD and enhance therapeutic efficacy and bioavailability.
Summary
Notably, the drugs used conventionally to target the central nervous system have limitations that include an inability to cross the ‘blood–brain barrier’ or the ‘blood–cerebrospinal fluid barrier’ effectively and high drug efflux due to the activity of P-glycoprotein, but these limitations can be successfully overcome when nanocarriers are used for targeted drug delivery in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seetha Harilal
- Kerala University of Health Sciences, Thrissur, Kerala, India
| | - Jobin Jose
- Department of Pharmaceutics, NGSM Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, NITTE Deemed to be University, Mangalore, India
| | | | - Rajesh Kumar
- Kerala University of Health Sciences, Thrissur, Kerala, India
| | | | - Md Sahab Uddin
- Department of Pharmacy, Southeast University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Pharmakon Neuroscience Research Network, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Hoon Kim
- Department of Pharmacy, Research Institute of Life Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, Korea
| | - Bijo Mathew
- Division of Drug Design, Medicinal Chemistry Research Lab, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Ahalia School of Pharmacy, Palakkad, Kerala, India
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Cortés A, Gracia E, Moreno E, Mallol J, Lluís C, Canela EI, Casadó V. Moonlighting Adenosine Deaminase: A Target Protein for Drug Development. Med Res Rev 2014; 35:85-125. [DOI: 10.1002/med.21324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Antoni Cortés
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED); Institute of Biomedicine of the University of Barcelona (IBUB); Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Faculty of Biology; University of Barcelona; Barcelona Spain
| | - Eduard Gracia
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED); Institute of Biomedicine of the University of Barcelona (IBUB); Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Faculty of Biology; University of Barcelona; Barcelona Spain
| | - Estefania Moreno
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED); Institute of Biomedicine of the University of Barcelona (IBUB); Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Faculty of Biology; University of Barcelona; Barcelona Spain
| | - Josefa Mallol
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED); Institute of Biomedicine of the University of Barcelona (IBUB); Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Faculty of Biology; University of Barcelona; Barcelona Spain
| | - Carme Lluís
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED); Institute of Biomedicine of the University of Barcelona (IBUB); Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Faculty of Biology; University of Barcelona; Barcelona Spain
| | - Enric I. Canela
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED); Institute of Biomedicine of the University of Barcelona (IBUB); Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Faculty of Biology; University of Barcelona; Barcelona Spain
| | - Vicent Casadó
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED); Institute of Biomedicine of the University of Barcelona (IBUB); Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Faculty of Biology; University of Barcelona; Barcelona Spain
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7
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Li MH, Tang JP, Zhang P, Li X, Wang CY, Wei HJ, Yang XF, Zou W, Tang XQ. Disturbance of endogenous hydrogen sulfide generation and endoplasmic reticulum stress in hippocampus are involved in homocysteine-induced defect in learning and memory of rats. Behav Brain Res 2014; 262:35-41. [PMID: 24423987 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2014.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2013] [Revised: 01/02/2014] [Accepted: 01/05/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Homocysteine (Hcy) is a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) acts as an endogenous neuromodulator and neuroprotectant. It has been shown that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is involved in the pathological mechanisms of the learning and memory dysfunctions and that H2S exerts its neuroprotective role via suppressing ER stress. In the present work, we explored the effects of intracerebroventricular injection of Hcy on the formation of learning and memory, the generation of endogenous H2S, and the expression of ER stress in the hippocampus of rats. We found that intracerebroventricular injection of Hcy in rats leads to learning and memory dysfunctions in the Morris water maze and novel of object recognition test and decreases in the expression of cystathionine-β-synthase, the major enzyme responsible for endogenous H2S generation, and the generation of endogenous H2S in the hippocampus of rats. We also showed that exposure of Hcy could up-regulate the expressions of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), CHOP, and cleaved caspase-12, which are the major mark proteins of ER stress, in the hippocampus of rats. Taken together, these results suggest that the disturbance of hippocampal endogenous H2S generation and the increase in ER stress in the hippocampus are related to Hcy-induced defect in learning and memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man-Hong Li
- Department of Neurology, Nanhua Affiliated Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001 Hunan, PR China; Institute of Neuroscience, Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001 Hunan, PR China
| | - Ji-Ping Tang
- Department of Neurology, Nanhua Affiliated Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001 Hunan, PR China; Institute of Neuroscience, Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001 Hunan, PR China
| | - Ping Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Nanhua Affiliated Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001 Hunan, PR China
| | - Xiang Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, the First Affiliated Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001 Hunan, PR China
| | - Chun-Yan Wang
- Department of Pathophysiology, Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001 Hunan, PR China
| | - Hai-Jun Wei
- Institute of Neuroscience, Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001 Hunan, PR China
| | - Xue-Feng Yang
- Department of Neurology, Nanhua Affiliated Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001 Hunan, PR China
| | - Wei Zou
- Department of Neurology, Nanhua Affiliated Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001 Hunan, PR China.
| | - Xiao-Qing Tang
- Department of Neurology, Nanhua Affiliated Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001 Hunan, PR China; Institute of Neuroscience, Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001 Hunan, PR China.
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8
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Chen JF. Adenosine receptor control of cognition in normal and disease. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2014; 119:257-307. [PMID: 25175970 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-801022-8.00012-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Adenosine and adenosine receptors (ARs) are increasingly recognized as important therapeutic targets for controlling cognition under normal and disease conditions for its dual roles of neuromodulation as well as of homeostatic function in the brain. This chapter first presents the unique ability of adenosine, by acting on the inhibitory A1 and facilitating A2A receptor, to integrate dopamine, glutamate, and BNDF signaling and to modulate synaptic plasticity (e.g., long-term potentiation and long-term depression) in brain regions relevant to learning and memory, providing the molecular and cellular bases for adenosine receptor (AR) control of cognition. This led to the demonstration of AR modulation of social recognition memory, working memory, reference memory, reversal learning, goal-directed behavior/habit formation, Pavlovian fear conditioning, and effort-related behavior. Furthermore, human and animal studies support that AR activity can also, through cognitive enhancement and neuroprotection, reverse cognitive impairments in animal models of Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease, and schizophrenia. Lastly, epidemiological evidence indicates that regular human consumption of caffeine, the most widely used psychoactive drug and nonselective AR antagonists, is associated with the reduced cognitive decline in aging and AD patients, and with the reduced risk in developing PD. Thus, there is a convergence of the molecular studies revealing AR as molecular targets for integrating neurotransmitter signaling and controlling synaptic plasticity, with animal studies demonstrating the strong procognitive impact upon AR antagonism in normal and disease brains and with epidemiological and clinical evidences in support of caffeine and AR drugs for therapeutic modulation of cognition. Since some of adenosine A2A receptor antagonists are already in phase III clinical trials for motor benefits in PD patients with remarkable safety profiles, additional animal and human studies to better understand the mechanism underlying the AR-mediated control of cognition under normal and disease conditions will provide the required rationale to stimulate the necessary clinical investigation to rapidly translate adenosine and AR drug as a novel strategy to control memory impairment in neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiang-Fan Chen
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; The Molecular Medicine Institute, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, PR China.
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Coppedè F. One-carbon metabolism and Alzheimer's disease: focus on epigenetics. Curr Genomics 2011; 11:246-60. [PMID: 21119889 PMCID: PMC2930664 DOI: 10.2174/138920210791233090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2010] [Revised: 03/04/2010] [Accepted: 03/12/2010] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) represents the most common form of dementia in the elderly, characterized by progressive loss of memory and cognitive capacity severe enough to interfere with daily functioning and the quality of life. Rare, fully penetrant mutations in three genes (APP, PSEN1 and PSEN2) are responsible for familial forms of the disease. However, more than 90% of AD is sporadic, likely resulting from complex interactions between genetic and environmental factors. Increasing evidence supports a role for epigenetic modifications in AD pathogenesis. Folate metabolism, also known as one-carbon metabolism, is required for the production of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), which is the major DNA methylating agent. AD individuals are characterized by decreased plasma folate values, as well as increased plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels, and there is indication of impaired SAM levels in AD brains. Polymorphisms of genes participating in one-carbon metabolism have been associated with AD risk and/or with increased Hcy levels in AD individuals. Studies in rodents suggest that early life exposure to neurotoxicants or dietary restriction of folate and other B vitamins result in epigenetic modifications of AD related genes in the animal brains. Similarly, studies performed on human neuronal cell cultures revealed that folate and other B vitamins deprivation from the media resulted in epigenetic modification of the PSEN1 gene. There is also evidence of epigenetic modifications in the DNA extracted from blood and brains of AD subjects. Here I review one-carbon metabolism in AD, with emphasis on possible epigenetic consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Coppedè
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, 56126 Pisa, Italy
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Chen JF, Chern Y. Impacts of methylxanthines and adenosine receptors on neurodegeneration: human and experimental studies. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2011:267-310. [PMID: 20859800 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-13443-2_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative disorders are some of the most feared illnesses in modern society, with no effective treatments to slow or halt this neurodegeneration. Several decades after the earliest attempt to treat Parkinson's disease using caffeine, tremendous amounts of information regarding the potential beneficial effect of caffeine as well as adenosine drugs on major neurodegenerative disorders have accumulated. In the first part of this review, we provide general background on the adenosine receptor signaling systems by which caffeine and methylxanthine modulate brain activity and their role in relationship to the development and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. The demonstration of close interaction between adenosine receptor and other G protein coupled receptors and accessory proteins might offer distinct pharmacological properties from adenosine receptor monomers. This is followed by an outline of the major mechanism underlying neuroprotection against neurodegeneration offered by caffeine and adenosine receptor agents. In the second part, we discuss the current understanding of caffeine/methylxantheine and its major target adenosine receptors in development of individual neurodegenerative disorders, including stroke, traumatic brain injury Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease and multiple sclerosis. The exciting findings to date include the specific in vivo functions of adenosine receptors revealed by genetic mouse models, the demonstration of a broad spectrum of neuroprotection by chronic treatment of caffeine and adenosine receptor ligands in animal models of neurodegenerative disorders, the encouraging development of several A(2A) receptor selective antagonists which are now in advanced clinical phase III trials for Parkinson's disease. Importantly, increasing body of the human and experimental studies reveals encouraging evidence that regular human consumption of caffeine in fact may have several beneficial effects on neurodegenerative disorders, from motor stimulation to cognitive enhancement to potential neuroprotection. Thus, with regard to neurodegenerative disorders, these potential benefits of methylxanthines, caffeine in particular, strongly argue against the common practice by clinicians to discourage regular human consumption of caffeine in aging populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiang-Fan Chen
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
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Song JX, Lin X, Wong RNS, Sze SCW, Tong Y, Shaw PC, Zhang YB. Protective effects of dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans from Schisandra chinensis against beta-amyloid and homocysteine neurotoxicity in PC12 cells. Phytother Res 2010; 25:435-43. [PMID: 20740476 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.3269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2010] [Revised: 05/29/2010] [Accepted: 06/22/2010] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Aggregated beta-amyloid (Aβ) and elevated plasma levels of homocysteine have been implicated as critical factors in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. The neuroprotective effects and possible mechanism of four structurally similar dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans (namely schisandrin, schisantherin A, schisandrin B and schisandrin C) isolated from the fruit of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. (Schisandraceae) against Aβ₂₅₋₃₅ and homocysteine toxicity in PC12 cells was studied. Exposure of PC12 cells to 0.5 µm Aβ₂₅₋₃₅ caused significant cell death, increased the number of apoptotic cells, elevated reactive oxygen species, increased the levels of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax and caspase-3 activation. All these effects induced by Aβ₂₅₋₃₅ were markedly reversed by schisandrin B and schisandrin C pretreatment, while schisandrin and schisantherin A had no obvious effects. Meanwhile, schisandrin B and schisandrin C reversed homocysteine-induced cytotoxicity. The results indicated that schisandrin B and schisandrin C protected PC12 cells against Aβ toxicity by attenuating ROS production and modulating the apoptotic signal pathway through Bax and caspase-3. Further structure-activity analysis of Schisandra lignans and evaluations of their neuroprotective effects using AD animal models are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ju-Xian Song
- The School of Chinese Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
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12
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Stone TW, Ceruti S, Abbracchio MP. Adenosine receptors and neurological disease: neuroprotection and neurodegeneration. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2009:535-87. [PMID: 19639293 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-540-89615-9_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Adenosine receptors modulate neuronal and synaptic function in a range of ways that may make them relevant to the occurrence, development and treatment of brain ischemic damage and degenerative disorders. A(1) adenosine receptors tend to suppress neural activity by a predominantly presynaptic action, while A(2A) adenosine receptors are more likely to promote transmitter release and postsynaptic depolarization. A variety of interactions have also been described in which adenosine A(1) or A(2) adenosine receptors can modify cellular responses to conventional neurotransmitters or receptor agonists such as glutamate, NMDA, nitric oxide and P2 purine receptors. Part of the role of adenosine receptors seems to be in the regulation of inflammatory processes that often occur in the aftermath of a major insult or disease process. All of the adenosine receptors can modulate the release of cytokines such as interleukins and tumor necrosis factor-alpha from immune-competent leukocytes and glia. When examined directly as modifiers of brain damage, A(1) adenosine receptor (AR) agonists, A(2A)AR agonists and antagonists, as well as A(3)AR antagonists, can protect against a range of insults, both in vitro and in vivo. Intriguingly, acute and chronic treatments with these ligands can often produce diametrically opposite effects on damage outcome, probably resulting from adaptational changes in receptor number or properties. In some cases molecular approaches have identified the involvement of ERK and GSK-3beta pathways in the protection from damage. Much evidence argues for a role of adenosine receptors in neurological disease. Receptor densities are altered in patients with Alzheimer's disease, while many studies have demonstrated effects of adenosine and its antagonists on synaptic plasticity in vitro, or on learning adequacy in vivo. The combined effects of adenosine on neuronal viability and inflammatory processes have also led to considerations of their roles in Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, Huntington's disease and multiple sclerosis, as well as the brain damage associated with stroke. In addition to the potential pathological relevance of adenosine receptors, there are earnest attempts in progress to generate ligands that will target adenosine receptors as therapeutic agents to treat some of these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trevor W Stone
- Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK.
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13
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Smith AD. The Worldwide Challenge of the Dementias: A Role for B Vitamins and Homocysteine? Food Nutr Bull 2008; 29:S143-72. [DOI: 10.1177/15648265080292s119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 147] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Dementia has reached epidemic proportions, with an estimated 4.6 million new cases worldwide each year. With an aging world population, the prevalence of dementia will increase dramatically in the next few decades. Of the predicted 114 million who will have dementia in 2050, about three-quarters will live in less developed regions. Although strongly age-related, dementia is not an inevitable part of aging but is a true disease, caused by exposure to several genetic and nongenetic risk factors. Prevention will be possible when the nongenetic risk factors have been identified. Apart from age, more than 20 nongenetic risk factors have been postulated, but very few have been established by randomized intervention studies. Elevated blood concentrations of total homocysteine and low-normal concentrations of B vitamins (folate, vitamin B12, and vitamin B6) are candidate risk factors for both Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. Seventy-seven cross-sectional studies on more than 34,000 subjects and 33 prospective studies on more than 12,000 subjects have shown associations between cognitive deficit or dementia and homocysteine and/or B vitamins. Biologically plausible mechanisms have been proposed to account for these associations, including atrophy of the cerebral cortex, but a definite causal pathway has yet to be shown. Raised plasma total homocysteine is a strong prognostic marker of future cognitive decline, and is common in world populations. Low-normal concentrations of the B vitamins, the main determinant of homocysteine concentrations, are also common and occur in particularly vulnerable sections of the population, such as infants and elderly. Large-scale randomized trials of homocysteine-lowering vitamins are needed to see if a proportion of dementia in the world can be prevented.
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Albasanz JL, Rodríguez A, Ferrer I, Martín M. Up-regulation of adenosine A1 receptors in frontal cortex from Pick's disease cases. Eur J Neurosci 2007; 26:3501-8. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2007.05965.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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15
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Albasanz JL, Rodríguez A, Ferrer I, Martín M. Adenosine A2A receptors are up-regulated in Pick's disease frontal cortex. Brain Pathol 2007; 16:249-55. [PMID: 17107593 PMCID: PMC8095809 DOI: 10.1111/j.1750-3639.2006.00026.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Adenosine A2A receptors (A2AR) are highly expressed in striatum. However, they are also present in extrastriatal structures. A2AR were studied in post-mortem human frontal cortex from Pick's disease (PiD) and age-matched non-demented controls by radioligand binding assays, Western-blotting, real-time PCR and adenylyl cyclase activity determination. Saturation binding assay using [3H]ZM 241385, a selective A2A antagonist, as radioligand revealed a significant increase in total adenosine A2AR numbers (Bmax) in frontal cortex from PiD samples (191% of control Bmax), suggesting up-regulation of this receptor. A significant increase in the level of A2AR was also detected by Western-blotting. Furthermore, expression of mRNA coding A2AR determined by quantitative real-time PCR was enhanced. In agreement, stimulation of adenylyl cyclase by CGS 21680, a selective A2A receptor agonist, was significantly strengthened. Up-regulation of A2B receptors and their corresponding mRNA was also observed. These results show that A2A adenosine receptor/adenylyl cyclase transduction pathway is up-regulated and sensitized in frontal cortex brain from PiD.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Luís Albasanz
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Orgánica y Bioquímica, Facultad de Químicas, Centro Regional de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad de Castilla‐La Mancha, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Agustín Rodríguez
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Anatomía Patológica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Barcelona, campus de Bellvitge, and
| | - Isidro Ferrer
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Anatomía Patológica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Barcelona, campus de Bellvitge, and
- Instituto de Neuropatología, Servicio de Anatomía Patológica, IDIBELL‐Hospital Universitario de Bellvitge, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Mairena Martín
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Orgánica y Bioquímica, Facultad de Químicas, Centro Regional de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad de Castilla‐La Mancha, Ciudad Real, Spain
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Selley ML. A metabolic link between S-adenosylhomocysteine and polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolism in Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiol Aging 2006; 28:1834-9. [PMID: 16996649 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2006.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2005] [Revised: 07/07/2006] [Accepted: 08/15/2006] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
There is evidence that vascular risk factors contribute to the pathology of Alzheimer's disease. Increased concentrations of circulating homocysteine are associated with vascular risk factors and Alzheimer's disease but the mechanisms involved are unclear. Homocysteine inhibits the hydrolysis of S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) which is a product inhibitor of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) dependent methyltransferase reactions. It has been shown previously that SAH inhibits phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PEMT) in the liver. The activity of PEMT in the liver plays an important role in the methylation of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) to phosphatidylcholine (PC) and the delivery of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) to peripheral tissues. In the present study, the plasma concentrations of SAH, SAM and homocysteine and the erythrocyte composition of phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and their respective polyunsaturated fatty acid concentrations were determined in 26 patients with Alzheimer's disease and compared to those in 29 healthy control subjects. There was a significant increase in the plasma concentrations of SAH (p<0.001) and homocysteine (p<0.001) and a significant increase in the plasma concentrations of SAM (p<0.001) in the Alzheimer's patients. A significant positive correlation was found between the plasma concentrations of SAH and homocysteine (r=0.738, p<0.001). There was a negative correlation between the plasma concentrations of homocysteine and the ratio of SAM/SAH (r=-0.637, p<0.01). There was a significant decrease in the erythrocyte content of PC (p<0.001) and an increase in the erythrocyte content of PE (p<0.001) in the Alzheimer's patients. Plasma SAH concentrations were negatively related to erythrocyte PC concentrations (r=-0.286, p<0.01) and positively related to erythrocyte PE concentrations (r=0.429, p<0.001). The erythrocyte PC from Alzheimer's patients had a significant depletion of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (p<0.001) while there was no significant difference in the DHA content of erythrocyte PE. There was a significant negative correlation between plasma SAH and the DHA composition of erythrocyte PC (r=-0.271, p<0.001). This data may reflect the inhibition of hepatic PEMT activity by SAH in Alzheimer's disease. The decreased mobilization of DHA from the liver into plasma and peripheral tissues may increases the risk of atherosclerosis and stroke leading to chronic cerebral hypoperfusion. The evidence suggests that a metabolic link between the increased production of SAH and phospholipid metabolism may contribute to cerebrovascular and neurodegenerative changes in Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael L Selley
- Angiogen Pharmaceuticals Pty. Ltd., Level 31, ABN AMRO Tower, 88 Phillip Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia.
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