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Qu Z, Mossine VV, Cui J, Sun GY, Gu Z. Protective Effects of AGE and Its Components on Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration. Neuromolecular Med 2016; 18:474-82. [PMID: 27263111 DOI: 10.1007/s12017-016-8410-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2016] [Accepted: 05/17/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Garlic (Allium sativum) is used for culinary and medicinal purposes in diverse cultures worldwide. When fresh garlic is soaked in aqueous ethanol under ambient environment over 4 months or longer, the majority of irritating taste and odor is eliminated and the antioxidant profile in the resulting aged garlic extract (AGE) changes significantly. Recently, AGE and its components have been demonstrated to exert neuroprotective effects in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and cerebral ischemia. Because of its health supporting potential, there is increasing interest in understanding the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and the underlying mechanisms for its protective effects in heath and disease. There is evidence for AGE to exert its action on distinct signaling pathways associated with oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, although the primary molecular mechanisms remain unclear. By utilizing quantitative proteomic approaches, we demonstrated that AGE and two of its major ingredients, S-allyl-L-cysteine and N (α)-(1-deoxy-D-fructos-1-yl)-L-arginine, can attenuate neuroinflammatory responses in microglial cells through modulation of Nrf2-mediated signaling as well as other oxidative stress-related pathways. These experimental data provide information for the molecular targets of AGE and its components to mitigate neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation and show a promising potential of these compounds as dietary supplements for health maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Qu
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, M263 Medical Science Building, One Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA.,Center for Translational Neuroscience, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA
| | - Valeri V Mossine
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Jiankun Cui
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, M263 Medical Science Building, One Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA.,Center for Translational Neuroscience, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA.,Harry S. Truman Veterans Hospital, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA
| | - Grace Y Sun
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, M263 Medical Science Building, One Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA.,Center for Translational Neuroscience, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Zezong Gu
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, M263 Medical Science Building, One Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA. .,Center for Translational Neuroscience, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA. .,Harry S. Truman Veterans Hospital, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA.
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Jackson R, McNeil B, Taylor C, Holl G, Ruff D, Gwebu ET. Effect of aged garlic extract on caspase-3 activity, in vitro. Nutr Neurosci 2002; 5:287-90. [PMID: 12168692 DOI: 10.1080/10284150290032012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
In neurodegeneration, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), apoptosis results in the loss of valuable neurons. A key mechanism in apoptosis is the activation of caspase-3. Caspase-3 activity first becomes detectable early in apoptosis, continues to increase as cells undergo apoptosis, and rapidly declines in late stages of apoptosis. Its activity is an early marker of cells undergoing apoptosis. Caspase-3 catalyzes the formation of beta-amyloid peptide, a hallmark of AD. The purpose of the study was to determine whether dietary aged garlic extract (AGE), with known antioxidant properties and neuroprotection against Alzheimer's beta-amyloid cytotoxicity, inhibits the caspase-3 activity in vitro. Caspase-3 activity was assayed according to the prescribed protocol and incubated overnight at ambient temperature. We report that AGE inhibits caspase-3 in dose dependent manner. Caspase-8 was not inhibited by AGE. As a caspase-3 inhibitor, AGE may be effective in reducing apoptotic death of neurons since caspase inhibitors have been shown to inhibit neuronal cell death. We propose a scheme for the ameliorative effect of AGE on deleterious effects of beta-amyloid and possibly uncontrolled caspase-3 activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Jackson
- Department of Research, Oakwood College, Huntsville, AL 35896, USA
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