Glutathione in the Brain

Identification of metabolic components of carotid plaque in high-risk patients utilizing liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

OBJECTIVE

Carotid atherosclerosis is a chronic progressive vascular disease that can be complicated by stroke in severe cases. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of high-risk patients are quite difficult due to the lack of reliable clinical biomarkers. This study aimed to explore potential plaque metabolic markers of stroke-prone risk and relevant targets for pharmacological intervention.

METHOD

Carotid intima and plaque sample tissues were obtained from 20 patients with cerebrovascular symptoms of carotid origin. An untargeted metabolomics approach based on liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was utilized to characterize the metabolic profiles of the tissues. Multivariate and univariate analysis tools were used.

RESULTS

A total of 154 metabolites were significantly altered in carotid plaque when compared with thickened intima. Of these, 62 metabolites were upregulated, whereas 92 metabolites were downregulated. Support vector machines identified the 15 most important metabolites, such as N-(cyclopropylmethyl)-N'-phenylurea, 9(S)-HOTrE, ACar 12:2, quinoxaline-2,3-dithiol, and l-thyroxine, as biomarkers for high-risk plaques. Metabolic pathway analysis showed that abnormal purine and nucleotide metabolism, amino acid metabolism, glutathione metabolism, and vitamin metabolism may contribute to the occurrence and progression of carotid atherosclerotic plaque.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study identifies the biomarkers and related metabolic mechanisms of carotid plaque, which is stroke-prone, and provides insights and ideas for the precise prevention and targeted intervention of the disease.

Pharmacological elevation of glutathione inhibits status epilepticus-induced neuroinflammation and oxidative injury

Glutathione (GSH) is a major endogenous antioxidant, and its depletion has been observed in several brain diseases including epilepsy. Previous studies in our laboratory have shown that dimercaprol (DMP) can elevate GSH via post-translational activation of glutamate cysteine ligase (GCL), the rate limiting GSH biosynthetic enzyme and inhibit neuroinflammation in vitro. Here we determined 1) the role of cysteamine as a new mechanism by which DMP increases GSH biosynthesis and 2) its ability to inhibit neuroinflammation and neuronal injury in the rat kainate model of epilepsy. DMP depleted cysteamine in a time- and concentration-dependent manner in a cell free system. To guide the in vivo administration of DMP, its pharmacokinetic profile was determined in the plasma, liver, and brain. The results confirmed DMP's ability to cross the blood-brain-barrier. Treatment of rats with DMP (30 mg/kg) depleted cysteamine in the liver and hippocampus that was associated with increased GCL activity in these tissues. GSH levels were significantly increased (20 %) in the hippocampus 1 h after 30 mg/kg DMP administration. Following DMP (30 mg/kg) administration once daily, a marked attenuation of GSH depletion was seen in the SE model. SE-induced inflammatory markers including cytokine release, microglial activation, and neuronal death were significantly attenuated in the hippocampus with DMP treatment. Taken together, these results highlight the importance of restoring redox status with rescue of GSH depletion by DMP in post epileptogenic insults.

Oxidative stress-mediated neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are metabolic by-products that constitute an indispensable component of physiological processes, albeit their heightened presence may proffer substantial perils to biological entities. Such a proliferation gives rise to a gradual escalation of oxidative stress within the organism, thereby compromising mitochondrial functionality and inflicting harm upon various bodily systems, with a particular predilection for the central nervous system. In its nascent stages, it is plausible that inflammation has been a facilitator in the progression of the malady. The precise role of inflammation in Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains somewhat enigmatic, although it is conceivable that activated microglia and astrocytes might be implicated in the removal of amyloid-β (Aβ) deposits. Nonetheless, prolonged microglial activation is associated with Tau phosphorylation and Aβ aggregation. Research studies have indicated that AD brains upregulate complementary molecules, inflammatory cytokines, acute phase reacting agents, and other inflammatory mediators that may cause neurodegeneration. In this review, oxidative damage products will be discussed as potential peripheral biomarkers for AD and its early stages. The disordered excretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, oxygen, and nitrogen-reactive species, along with the stimulation of the complement system by glial cells, has the potential to disrupt the functionality of neuronal termini. This perturbation, in turn, culminates in compromised synaptic function, a phenomenon empirically linked to the manifestation of cognitive impairments. The management of neurodegenerative conditions in the context of dementia necessitates therapeutic interventions that specifically target the excessive production of inflammatory and oxidative agents. Furthermore, we shall deliberate upon the function of microglia and oxidative injury in the etiology of AD and the ensuing neurodegenerative processes.

Clioquinol rescues yeast cells from Aβ42 toxicity via the inhibition of oxidative damage

Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common form of dementia, has gotten considerable attention. Previous studies have demonstrated that clioquinol (CQ) as a metal chelator is a potential drug for the treatment of AD. However, the mode of action of CQ in AD is still unclear. In our study, the antioxidant effects of CQ on yeast cells expressing Aβ42 were investigated. We found that CQ could reduce Aβ42 toxicity by alleviating reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and lipid peroxidation level in yeast cells. These alterations were mainly attributable to the increased reduced glutathione (GSH) content and independent of activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and/or catalase (CAT). CQ could affect antioxidant enzyme activity by altering the transcription level of related genes. Interestingly, it was noted for the first time that CQ could combine with antioxidant enzymes to reduce their enzymatic activities by molecular docking and circular dichroism spectroscopy. In addition, CQ restored Aβ42-mediated disruption of GSH homeostasis via regulating YAP1 expression to protect cells against oxidative stress. Our findings not only improve the current understanding of the mechanism of CQ as a potential drug for AD treatment but also provide ideas for subsequent drug research and development.

The discovery of GGT1 as a novel gene for ischemic stroke conferring protection against disease risk in non-smokers and non-abusers of alcohol

OBJECTIVES

Increased plasma gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT1) has been identified as a robust and independent risk factor for ischemic stroke (IS), but the molecular mechanisms of the enzyme-disease association are unclear. The present study investigated whether polymorphisms in the GGT1 gene contribute to IS susceptibility.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

DNA samples obtained from 1288 unrelated individuals (600 IS patients and 688 controls) were genotyped for common single nucleotide polymorphisms of GGT1 using the MassArray-4 platform.

RESULTS

The rs5751909 polymorphism was significantly associated with decreased risk of ischemic stroke regardless sex and age (Pperm ≤ 0.01, dominant genetic model). The haplotype rs4820599A-rs5760489A-rs5751909A showed strong protection against ischemic stroke (OR 0.53, 95 %CI 0.36 - 0.77, Pperm ≤ 0.0001). The protective effect of SNP rs5751909 in the stroke phenotype was successfully replicated in the UK Biobank, SiGN, and ISGC cohorts (P ≤ 0.01). GGT1 polymorphisms showed joint (epistatic) effects on the risk of ischemic stroke, with some known IS-associated GWAS loci (e.g., rs4322086 and rs12646447) investigated in our population. In addition, SNP rs5751909 was found to be strongly associated with a decreased risk of ischemic stroke in non-smokers (OR 0.54 95 %CI 0.39-0.75, Pperm = 0.0002) and non-alcohol abusers (OR 0.43 95 %CI 0.30-0.61, Pperm = 2.0 × 10-6), whereas no protective effects of this SNP against disease risk were observed in smokers and alcohol abusers (Pperm < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

We propose mechanisms underlying the observed associations between GGT1 polymorphisms and ischemic stroke risk. This pilot study is the first to demonstrate that GGT1 is a novel susceptibility gene for ischemic stroke and provides additional evidence of the genetic contribution to impaired redox homeostasis underlying disease pathogenesis.

Mitochondria at the crossroads of health and disease

Mitochondria reside at the crossroads of catabolic and anabolic metabolism-the essence of life. How their structure and function are dynamically tuned in response to tissue-specific needs for energy, growth repair, and renewal is being increasingly understood. Mitochondria respond to intrinsic and extrinsic stresses and can alter cell and organismal function by inducing metabolic signaling within cells and to distal cells and tissues. Here, we review how the centrality of mitochondrial functions manifests in health and a broad spectrum of diseases and aging.

Melatonin: a ferroptosis inhibitor with potential therapeutic efficacy for the post-COVID-19 trajectory of accelerated brain aging and neurodegeneration

The unprecedented pandemic of COVID-19 swept millions of lives in a short period, yet its menace continues among its survivors in the form of post-COVID syndrome. An exponentially growing number of COVID-19 survivors suffer from cognitive impairment, with compelling evidence of a trajectory of accelerated aging and neurodegeneration. The novel and enigmatic nature of this yet-to-unfold pathology demands extensive research seeking answers for both the molecular underpinnings and potential therapeutic targets. Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent cell death, is a strongly proposed underlying mechanism in post-COVID-19 aging and neurodegeneration discourse. COVID-19 incites neuroinflammation, iron dysregulation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, antioxidant system repression, renin-angiotensin system (RAS) disruption, and clock gene alteration. These events pave the way for ferroptosis, which shows its signature in COVID-19, premature aging, and neurodegenerative disorders. In the search for a treatment, melatonin shines as a promising ferroptosis inhibitor with its repeatedly reported safety and tolerability. According to various studies, melatonin has proven efficacy in attenuating the severity of certain COVID-19 manifestations, validating its reputation as an anti-viral compound. Melatonin has well-documented anti-aging properties and combating neurodegenerative-related pathologies. Melatonin can block the leading events of ferroptosis since it is an efficient anti-inflammatory, iron chelator, antioxidant, angiotensin II antagonist, and clock gene regulator. Therefore, we propose ferroptosis as the culprit behind the post-COVID-19 trajectory of aging and neurodegeneration and melatonin, a well-fitting ferroptosis inhibitor, as a potential treatment.

Metabolic Diaschisis in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Neurophysiological diaschisis presents in traumatic brain injury (TBI) as functional impairment distant to the lesion site caused by axonal neuroexcitation and deafferentation. Diaschisis studies in TBI models have evaluated acute phase functional and microstructural changes. Here, in vivo biochemical changes and cerebral blood flow (CBF) dynamics following TBI are studied with magnetic resonance. Behavioral assessments, magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), and CBF measurements on rats followed cortical impact TBI. Data were acquired pre-TBI and 1-3 h, 2-days, 7-days, and 14-days post-TBI. MRS was performed on the ipsilateral and contralateral sides in the cortex, striatum, and thalamus. Metabolites measured by MRS included N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), aspartate (Asp), lactate (Lac), glutathione (GSH), and glutamate (Glu). Lesion volume expanded for 2 days post-TBI and then decreased. Ipsilateral CBF dropped acutely versus baseline on both sides (-62% ipsilateral, -48% contralateral, p < 0.05) but then recovered in cortex, with similar changes in ipsilateral striatum. Metabolic changes versus baseline included increased Asp (+640% by Day 7 post-TBI, p < 0.05) and Lac (+140% on Day 2 post-TBI, p < 0.05) in ipsilateral cortex, while GSH (-67% acutely, p < 0.05) and NAA decreased (-50% on Day 2, p < 0.05). In contralateral cortex Lac decreased (-73% acutely, p < 0.05). Analysis of variance showed significance for Side (p < 0.05), Time after TBI (p < 0.05), and interactions (p < 0.005) for Asp, GSH, Lac, and NAA. Transient decreases of GSH (-30%, p < 0.05, acutely) and NAA (-23% on Day 2, p < 0.05) occurred in ipsilateral striatum with reduced GSH (-42%, p < 0.005, acutely) in the contralateral striatum. GSH was decreased in ipsilateral thalamus (-59% ipsilateral on Day 2, p < 0.05). Delayed increases of total choline were seen in the contralateral thalamus were noted as well (+21% on Day 7 post-TBI, p < 0.05). Both CBF and neurometabolite concentration changes occurred remotely from the TBI site, both ipsilaterally and contralaterally. Decreased Lac levels on the contralateral cortex following TBI may be indicative of reduced anaerobic metabolism during the acute phase. The timing and locations of the changes suggest excitatory and inhibitory signaling processes are affecting post-TBI metabolic fluctuations.

Alkyne-tagged SERS nanoprobe for understanding Cu+ and Cu2+ conversion in cuproptosis processes

Simultaneously quantifying mitochondrial Cu+ and Cu2+ levels is crucial for evaluating the molecular mechanisms of copper accumulation-involved pathological processes. Here, a series of molecules containing various diacetylene derivatives as Raman reporters are designed and synthesized, and the alkyne-tagged SERS probe is created for determination Cu+ and Cu2+ with high selectivity and sensitivity. The developed SERS probe generates well-separated distinguishable Raman fingerprint peaks with built-in corrections in the cellular silent region, resulting in accurate quantification of Cu+ and Cu2+. The present probe demonstrates high tempo-spatial resolution for real-time imaging and simultaneously quantifying mitochondrial Cu+ and Cu2+ with long-term stability benefiting from the probe assembly with designed Au-C≡C groups. Using this powerful tool, it is found that mitochondrial Cu+ and Cu2+ increase during ischemia are associated with breakdown of proteins containing copper as well as conversion of Cu+ and Cu2+. Meanwhile, we observe that parts of Cu+ and Cu2+ are transported out of neurons by ATPase. More importantly, cuproptosis in neurons is found including the oxidative stress process caused by the conversion of Cu+ to Cu2+, which dominates at the early stage (<9 h), and subsequent proteotoxic stress. Both oxidative and proteotoxic stresses contribute to neuronal death.

Biomarkers of bipolar disorder based on metabolomics: A systematic review

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a severe affective disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of depression or mania/hypomania, which significantly impair cognitive function, life skills, and social abilities of patients. There is little understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms of BD. The diagnosis of BD is primarily based on clinical assessment and psychiatric examination, highlighting the urgent need for objective markers to facilitate the diagnosis of BD. Metabolomics can be used as a diagnostic tool for disease identification and evaluation. This study summarized the altered metabolites in BD and analyzed aberrant metabolic pathways, which might contribute to the diagnosis of BD. Search of PubMed and Web of science for human BD studies related to metabolism to identify articles published up to November 19, 2022 yielded 987 articles. After screening and applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 16 untargeted and 11 targeted metabolomics studies were included. Pathway analysis of the potential differential biometabolic markers was performed using the Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG). There were 72 upregulated and 134 downregulated biomarkers in the untargeted metabolomics studies using blood samples. Untargeted metabolomics studies utilizing urine specimens revealed the presence of 78 upregulated and 54 downregulated metabolites. The targeted metabolomics studies revealed abnormalities in the metabolism of glutamate and tryptophan. Enrichment analysis revealed that the differential metabolic pathways were mainly involved in the metabolism of glucose, amino acid and fatty acid. These findings suggested that certain metabolic biomarkers or metabolic biomarker panels might serve as a reference for the diagnosis of BD.

Effect of chronic maternal L-Glu intake during gestation and/or lactation on oxidative stress markers, AMPA Glu1 receptor and adenosine A1 signalling pathway from foetal and neonatal cerebellum

L-Glutamate (L-Glu) is an amino acid present in the diet that plays a fundamental role in the central nervous system, as the main excitatory neurotransmitter participating in learning and memory processes. In addition, the nucleoside adenosine has a crucial role in L-Glu metabolism, by regulating the liberation of this neurotransmitter through four different receptors: A1, A2A, A2B and A3, which activate (A2A and A2B) or inhibit (A1 and A3) adenylate cyclase pathway. L-Glu at high concentrations can act as a neurotoxin and induce oxidative stress. The study of the oxidative stress correlated with an excess of L-Glu consumption during maternity is key to understand its effects on foetuses and neonates. Previous studies have shown that there is a change in the receptor levels in the brain of pregnant rats and their foetuses when mothers are administered L-Glu during gestation; however, its effect on the cerebellum is unknown. Cerebellum is known to be responsible for motor, cognitive and emotional functions, so its possible involvement after L-Glu consumption is an important issue to study. Therefore, the aim of the present work was to study the effect of L-Glu exposure during gestation and lactation on oxidative stress biomarkers and neurotransmitter receptors from the cerebellum of foetuses and neonates. After maternal L-Glu intake during gestation, oxidative stress was increased, as the ionotropic L-Glu receptors, and GluR1 AMPA subunit levels were altered in foetuses. A1 adenosine receptor suffered changes after L-Glu treatment during gestation, lactation or both, in lactating neonate cerebellum, while adenylate cyclase activity remain unaltered. Further studies will be necessary to elucidate the importance of L-Glu intake and its possible excitotoxicity in the cerebellum of Wistar rats during the pregnancy period and their involvement in long-term neurodegeneration.

Real-time thiol detection in iPSC-derived neuron cultures using SemKur-IM, a novel fluorescent dithio probe

Neurological disorders associated with inflammation and oxidative stress show reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in the human brain. Drug discovery efforts and pharmacological studies would benefit from tools (e.g. chemical probes) that detect changes to oxidative stress, from the perspective of physiologically-relevant reporters like cellular thiols, including GSH. To this end, we have developed a fluorescence visualization assay using iPSC-derived cortical glutamatergic neurons that were loaded with 25 μM of a novel thiol-detection fluorescent probe, SemKur-IM. This probe enables visualization of cellular thiol level changes in the neuronal somas and neurites, in response exposure to N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC). Cellular thiol redox state was observed to change, based on an increase in green fluorescence (485 nm excitation maximum; 525 nm emission maximum) due to changes in thiol levels, from 0 to 40 mM. Interestingly, prior to treatment with NAC, cells did not appear to have significant levels of reduced thiols. Our studies demonstrate the utility of SemKur-IM in the detection of thiol levels in live cells in response to chemical exposures, such as from drugs that return the cell to a healthier reduced state. An initial application to screening the effects of an Alzheimer's disease drug candidate, Posiphen, using fluorescence cell sorting is presented. Other potential applications include high throughput screening of central nervous system (CNS) drugs thought to work by affecting cellular redox state in neurons.

Adolescent Stress-Induced Ventral Hippocampus Redox Dysregulation Underlies Behavioral Deficits and Excitatory/Inhibitory Imbalance Related to Schizophrenia

BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS

Redox dysregulation has been proposed as a convergent point of childhood trauma and the emergence of psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia (SCZ). A critical region particularly vulnerable to environmental insults during adolescence is the ventral hippocampus (vHip). However, the impact of severe stress on vHip redox states and their functional consequences, including behavioral and electrophysiological changes related to SCZ, are not entirely understood.

STUDY DESIGN

After exposing adolescent animals to physical stress (postnatal day, PND31-40), we explored social and cognitive behaviors (PND47-49), the basal activity of pyramidal glutamate neurons, the number of parvalbumin (PV) interneurons, and the transcriptomic signature of the vHip (PND51). We also evaluated the impact of stress on the redox system, including mitochondrial respiratory function, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and glutathione (GSH) levels in the vHip and serum.

STUDY RESULTS

Adolescent-stressed animals exhibited loss of sociability, cognitive impairment, and vHip excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) imbalance. Genome-wide transcriptional profiling unveiled the impact of stress on redox system- and synaptic-related genes. Stress impacted mitochondrial respiratory function and changes in ROS levels in the vHip. GSH and glutathione disulfide (GSSG) levels were elevated in the serum of stressed animals, while GSSG was also increased in the vHip and negatively correlated with sociability. Additionally, PV interneuron deficits in the vHip caused by adolescent stress were associated with oxidative stress.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results highlight the negative impact of adolescent stress on vHip redox regulation and mitochondrial function, which are partially associated with E/I imbalance and behavioral abnormalities related to SCZ.

Oxidative Stress and Cerebral Vascular Tone: The Role of Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species

The brain's unique characteristics make it exceptionally susceptible to oxidative stress, which arises from an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, reactive nitrogen species (RNS) production, and antioxidant defense mechanisms. This review explores the factors contributing to the brain's vascular tone's vulnerability in the presence of oxidative damage, which can be of clinical interest in critically ill patients or those presenting acute brain injuries. The brain's high metabolic rate and inefficient electron transport chain in mitochondria lead to significant ROS generation. Moreover, non-replicating neuronal cells and low repair capacity increase susceptibility to oxidative insult. ROS can influence cerebral vascular tone and permeability, potentially impacting cerebral autoregulation. Different ROS species, including superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, exhibit vasodilatory or vasoconstrictive effects on cerebral blood vessels. RNS, particularly NO and peroxynitrite, also exert vasoactive effects. This review further investigates the neuroprotective effects of antioxidants, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), vitamin C, vitamin E, and the glutathione redox system. Various studies suggest that these antioxidants could be used as adjunct therapies to protect the cerebral vascular tone under conditions of high oxidative stress. Nevertheless, more extensive research is required to comprehensively grasp the relationship between oxidative stress and cerebrovascular tone, and explore the potential benefits of antioxidants as adjunctive therapies in critical illnesses and acute brain injuries.

TBK1, a prioritized drug repurposing target for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: evidence from druggable genome Mendelian randomization and pharmacological verification in vitro

BACKGROUND

There is a lack of effective therapeutic strategies for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); therefore, drug repurposing might provide a rapid approach to meet the urgent need for treatment.

METHODS

To identify therapeutic targets associated with ALS, we conducted Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis and colocalization analysis using cis-eQTL of druggable gene and ALS GWAS data collections to determine annotated druggable gene targets that exhibited significant associations with ALS. By subsequent repurposing drug discovery coupled with inclusion criteria selection, we identified several drug candidates corresponding to their druggable gene targets that have been genetically validated. The pharmacological assays were then conducted to further assess the efficacy of genetics-supported repurposed drugs for potential ALS therapy in various cellular models.

RESULTS

Through MR analysis, we identified potential ALS druggable genes in the blood, including TBK1 [OR 1.30, 95%CI (1.19, 1.42)], TNFSF12 [OR 1.36, 95%CI (1.19, 1.56)], GPX3 [OR 1.28, 95%CI (1.15, 1.43)], TNFSF13 [OR 0.45, 95%CI (0.32, 0.64)], and CD68 [OR 0.38, 95%CI (0.24, 0.58)]. Additionally, we identified potential ALS druggable genes in the brain, including RESP18 [OR 1.11, 95%CI (1.07, 1.16)], GPX3 [OR 0.57, 95%CI (0.48, 0.68)], GDF9 [OR 0.77, 95%CI (0.67, 0.88)], and PTPRN [OR 0.17, 95%CI (0.08, 0.34)]. Among them, TBK1, TNFSF12, RESP18, and GPX3 were confirmed in further colocalization analysis. We identified five drugs with repurposing opportunities targeting TBK1, TNFSF12, and GPX3, namely fostamatinib (R788), amlexanox (AMX), BIIB-023, RG-7212, and glutathione as potential repurposing drugs. R788 and AMX were prioritized due to their genetic supports, safety profiles, and cost-effectiveness evaluation. Further pharmacological analysis revealed that R788 and AMX mitigated neuroinflammation in ALS cell models characterized by overly active cGAS/STING signaling that was induced by MSA-2 or ALS-related toxic proteins (TDP-43 and SOD1), through the inhibition of TBK1 phosphorylation.

CONCLUSIONS

Our MR analyses provided genetic evidence supporting TBK1, TNFSF12, RESP18, and GPX3 as druggable genes for ALS treatment. Among the drug candidates targeting the above genes with repurposing opportunities, FDA-approved drug-R788 and AMX served as effective TBK1 inhibitors. The subsequent pharmacological studies validated the potential of R788 and AMX for treating specific ALS subtypes through the inhibition of TBK1 phosphorylation.

Brain glutathione and GABA+ levels in autistic children

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social communication challenges and repetitive behaviors. Altered neurometabolite levels, including glutathione (GSH) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), have been proposed as potential contributors to the biology underlying ASD. This study investigated whether cerebral GSH or GABA levels differ between a cohort of children aged 8-12 years with ASD (n = 52) and typically developing children (TDC, n = 49). A comprehensive analysis of GSH and GABA levels in multiple brain regions, including the primary motor cortex (SM1), thalamus (Thal), medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), and supplementary motor area (SMA), was conducted using single-voxel HERMES MR spectroscopy at 3T. The results revealed no significant differences in cerebral GSH or GABA levels between the ASD and TDC groups across all examined regions. These findings suggest that the concentrations of GSH (an important antioxidant and neuromodulator) and GABA (a major inhibitory neurotransmitter) do not exhibit marked alterations in children with ASD compared to TDC. A statistically significant positive correlation was observed between GABA levels in the SM1 and Thal regions with ADHD inattention scores. No significant correlation was found between metabolite levels and hyper/impulsive scores of ADHD, measures of core ASD symptoms (ADOS-2, SRS-P) or adaptive behavior (ABAS-2). While both GSH and GABA have been implicated in various neurological disorders, the current study provides valuable insights into the specific context of ASD and highlights the need for further research to explore other neurochemical alterations that may contribute to the pathophysiology of this complex disorder.

Simvastatin Differentially Modulates Glial Functions in Cultured Cortical and Hypothalamic Astrocytes Derived from Interferon α/β Receptor Knockout mice

Astrocytes have key regulatory roles in central nervous system (CNS), integrating metabolic, inflammatory and synaptic responses. In this regard, type I interferon (IFN) receptor signaling in astrocytes can regulate synaptic plasticity. Simvastatin is a cholesterol-lowering drug that has shown anti-inflammatory properties, but its effects on astrocytes, a main source of cholesterol for neurons, remain to be elucidated. Herein, we investigated the effects of simvastatin in inflammatory and functional parameters of primary cortical and hypothalamic astrocyte cultures obtained from IFNα/β receptor knockout (IFNα/βR-/-) mice. Overall, simvastatin decreased extracellular levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), which were related to a downregulation in gene expression in hypothalamic, but not in cortical astrocytes. Moreover, there was an increase in anti-inflammatory interleukin-10 (IL-10) in both structures. Effects of simvastatin in inflammatory signaling also involved a downregulation of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) gene expression as well as an upregulation of nuclear factor κB subunit p65 (NFκB p65). The expression of cytoprotective genes sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and nuclear factor erythroid derived 2 like 2 (Nrf2) was also increased by simvastatin. In addition, simvastatin increased glutamine synthetase (GS) activity and glutathione (GSH) levels only in cortical astrocytes. Our findings provide evidence that astrocytes from different regions are important cellular targets of simvastatin in the CNS, even in the absence of IFNα/βR, which was showed by the modulation of cytokine production and release, as well as the expression of cytoprotective genes and functional parameters.

Ferroptosis regulation through Nrf2 and implications for neurodegenerative diseases

This article provides an overview of the background knowledge of ferroptosis in the nervous system, as well as the key role of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in regulating ferroptosis. The article takes Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease (HD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) as the starting point to explore the close association between Nrf2 and ferroptosis, which is of clear and significant importance for understanding the mechanism of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) based on oxidative stress (OS). Accumulating evidence links ferroptosis to the pathogenesis of NDs. As the disease progresses, damage to the antioxidant system, excessive OS, and altered Nrf2 expression levels, especially the inhibition of ferroptosis by lipid peroxidation inhibitors and adaptive enhancement of Nrf2 signaling, demonstrate the potential clinical significance of Nrf2 in detecting and identifying ferroptosis, as well as targeted therapy for neuronal loss and mitochondrial dysfunction. These findings provide new insights and possibilities for the treatment and prevention of NDs.

Endogenous chemicals guard health through inhibiting ferroptotic cell death

Ferroptosis is a new form of regulated cell death caused by iron-dependent accumulation of lethal polyunsaturated phospholipids peroxidation. It has received considerable attention owing to its putative involvement in a wide range of pathophysiological processes such as organ injury, cardiac ischemia/reperfusion, degenerative disease and its prevalence in plants, invertebrates, yeasts, bacteria, and archaea. To counter ferroptosis, living organisms have evolved a myriad of intrinsic efficient defense systems, such as cyst(e)ine-glutathione-glutathione peroxidase 4 system (cyst(e)ine-GPX4 system), guanosine triphosphate cyclohydrolase 1/tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) system (GCH1/BH4 system), ferroptosis suppressor protein 1/coenzyme Q10 system (FSP1/CoQ10 system), and so forth. Among these, GPX4 serves as the only enzymatic protection system through the reduction of lipid hydroperoxides, while other defense systems ultimately rely on small compounds to scavenge lipid radicals and prevent ferroptotic cell death. In this article, we systematically summarize the chemical biology of lipid radical trapping process by endogenous chemicals, such as coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), BH4, hydropersulfides, vitamin K, vitamin E, 7-dehydrocholesterol, with the aim of guiding the discovery of novel ferroptosis inhibitors.

Activatable Probes for Ratiometric Imaging of Endogenous Biomarkers In Vivo

Dynamic variations in the concentration and abnormal distribution of endogenous biomarkers are strongly associated with multiple physiological and pathological states. Therefore, it is crucial to design imaging systems capable of real-time detection of dynamic changes in biomarkers for the accurate diagnosis and effective treatment of diseases. Recently, ratiometric imaging has emerged as a widely used technique for sensing and imaging of biomarkers due to its advantage of circumventing the limitations inherent to conventional intensity-dependent signal readout methods while also providing built-in self-calibration for signal correction. Here, the recent progress of ratiometric probes and their applications in sensing and imaging of biomarkers are outlined. Ratiometric probes are classified according to their imaging mechanisms, and ratiometric photoacoustic imaging, ratiometric optical imaging including photoluminescence imaging and self-luminescence imaging, ratiometric magnetic resonance imaging, and dual-modal ratiometric imaging are discussed. The applications of ratiometric probes in the sensing and imaging of biomarkers such as pH, reactive oxygen species (ROS), reactive nitrogen species (RNS), glutathione (GSH), gas molecules, enzymes, metal ions, and hypoxia are discussed in detail. Additionally, this Review presents an overview of challenges faced in this field along with future research directions.

D-ribose-L-cysteine exhibits restorative neurobehavioral functions through modulation of neurochemical activities and inhibition oxido-inflammatory perturbations in rats exposed to polychlorinated biphenyl

Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) is potentially harmful environmental toxicant causing cognitive decline with depressive features. PCB-induced behavioral deficits are associated with neurochemical dysfunctions, immune changes, and oxidative stress. This study investigated the neuroprotective effects of D-ribose-L-cysteine (DRLC), a neuroprotective precursor element of glutathione on PCB-induced neurobehavioral impairments. Following the initial 15 days of PCB (2 mg/kg) exposure to rats, DRLC (50 mg/kg) was given orally for an additional 15 days, from days 16 to 30. Animals were assessed for behavioral effect such as changes in locomotion, cognition, and depression. Oxidative/nitrergic stress markers; antioxidant regulatory proteins paraoxonase-1 (PON-1), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nfr2), NADPH oxidase-1 (NOX-1), NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), and neuroinflammation (NF-kβ, and TNF-α); and neurochemical metabolizing enzymes (acetylcholinesterase (AChE), monoamine oxidase-A and -B (MAO-A, MAO-B)) were carried out. The PCB-induced decline in locomotion, cognitive performance, and depressive-like features were reversed by DRLC. More specifically, PCB-induced oxidative and nitrergic stress, typified by reduced levels GSH, CAT, and SOD, accompanied by elevated MDA and nitrite were attenuated by DRLC. Additionally, DRLC restored the neuroinflammatory milieu indicated by decreased NF-kβ and TNF-α levels toward normal. Hyperactivities of AChE, MAO-A, MAO-B, PON-1, and NOX-1 levels as well as Nfr2, NQO1, and PON-1 due to PCB exposure were mitigated by DLRC. Our results suggest DRLC as a prospective neurotherapeutic agent against PCB-induced neurobehavioral impairments such as cognitive deficit and depressive-like feature through antioxidative and anti-nitrergic stress, anti-neuroinflammation, inhibition of brain metabolizing enzymes, and normalization of neurochemical homeostasis.

Redox Protein Thioredoxin Mediates Neurite Outgrowth in Primary Cultured Mouse Cerebral Cortical Neurons

Thioredoxin system plays an important role in maintaining the cellular redox balance. Recent evidence suggests that thioredoxin (Trx) system may promote cell survival and neuroprotection. In this study, we explored the role of thioredoxin system in neuronal differentiation using a primary mouse cortical neuronal cell culture. First, Trx and Trx reductase (TrxR) protein levels were analyzed in cultured neurons from 1 to 32 days in vitro (DIV). The result showed that Trx and TrxR protein levels time-dependently increased in the neuron cell culture from 1 to 18 DIV. To establish the role of Trx in neuronal differentiation, Trx gene expression was knockdown in cultured neurons using Trx sgRNA CRISPR/Cas9 technology. Treatment with CRISPR/Cas9/Trx sgRNA decreased Trx protein levels and caused a reduction in dendritic outgrowth and branching of cultured neurons. Then, primary cortical neurons were treated with the Trx inhibitor PX12 to block Trx reducing activity. Treatment with PX12 also reduced dendritic outgrowth and branching. Furthermore, PX12 treatment reduced the ratio of phosphorylated cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CREB)/total CREB protein levels. To investigate whether CREB phosphorylation is redox regulated, SH-SY5Y cells were treated with H2O2, which reduced phosphorylated CREB protein levels and increased CREB thiol oxidation. However, treatment with CB3, a Trx-mimetic tripeptide, rescued H2O2-decreased CREB phosphorylation. Our results suggest that Trx regulates neuronal differentiation and maturation of primary mouse cortical neurons by targeting CREB neurotrophic pathway. Trx may regulate CREB activation by maintaining the cellular redox balance.

A Panel of miRNA Biomarkers Common to Serum and Brain-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Identified in Mouse Model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive motor neuron disease characterised by the deposition of aggregated proteins including TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) in vulnerable motor neurons and the brain. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) facilitate the spread of neurodegenerative diseases and can be easily accessed in the bloodstream. This study aimed to identify a panel of EV miRNAs that can capture the pathology occurring in the brain and peripheral circulation. EVs were isolated from the cortex (BDEVs) and serum (serum EVs) of 3 month-old and 6-month-old TDP-43*Q331K and TDP-43*WT mice. Following characterisation and miRNA isolation, the EVs underwent next-generation sequencing where 24 differentially packaged miRNAs were identified in the TDP-43*Q331K BDEVs and 7 in the TDP-43*Q331K serum EVs. Several miRNAs, including miR-183-5p, were linked to ALS. Additionally, miR-122-5p and miR-486b-5p were identified in both panels, demonstrating the ability of the serum EVs to capture the dysregulation occurring in the brain. This is the first study to identify miRNAs common to both the serum EVs and BDEVs in a mouse model of ALS.

Mitochondrial Glutathione in Cellular Redox Homeostasis and Disease Manifestation

Mitochondria are critical for providing energy to maintain cell viability. Oxidative phosphorylation involves the transfer of electrons from energy substrates to oxygen to produce adenosine triphosphate. Mitochondria also regulate cell proliferation, metastasis, and deterioration. The flow of electrons in the mitochondrial respiratory chain generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are harmful to cells at high levels. Oxidative stress caused by ROS accumulation has been associated with an increased risk of cancer, and cardiovascular and liver diseases. Glutathione (GSH) is an abundant cellular antioxidant that is primarily synthesized in the cytoplasm and delivered to the mitochondria. Mitochondrial glutathione (mGSH) metabolizes hydrogen peroxide within the mitochondria. A long-term imbalance in the ratio of mitochondrial ROS to mGSH can cause cell dysfunction, apoptosis, necroptosis, and ferroptosis, which may lead to disease. This study aimed to review the physiological functions, anabolism, variations in organ tissue accumulation, and delivery of GSH to the mitochondria and the relationships between mGSH levels, the GSH/GSH disulfide (GSSG) ratio, programmed cell death, and ferroptosis. We also discuss diseases caused by mGSH deficiency and related therapeutics.

Astroglial Cells: Emerging Therapeutic Targets in the Management of Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) represents a significant health concern, necessitating advanced therapeutic interventions. This detailed review explores the critical roles of astrocytes, key cellular constituents of the central nervous system (CNS), in both the pathophysiology and possible rehabilitation of TBI. Following injury, astrocytes exhibit reactive transformations, differentiating into pro-inflammatory (A1) and neuroprotective (A2) phenotypes. This paper elucidates the interactions of astrocytes with neurons, their role in neuroinflammation, and the potential for their therapeutic exploitation. Emphasized strategies encompass the utilization of endocannabinoid and calcium signaling pathways, hormone-based treatments like 17β-estradiol, biological therapies employing anti-HBGB1 monoclonal antibodies, gene therapy targeting Connexin 43, and the innovative technique of astrocyte transplantation as a means to repair damaged neural tissues.

Oral administration of resveratrol reduces oxidative stress generated in the hippocampus of Wistar rats in response to consumption of ethanol

Introduction

Chronic ethanol intake has been found to favor hippocampal deterioration and alter neuronal morphological maturation; resveratrol has been suggested as an antioxidant that may counteract these effects. The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of resveratrol on oxidative stress markers, endogenous antioxidant system in the hippocampus, and the behavior of male Wistar rats administered different concentrations of ethanol.

Methods

The animals, at 3 months old, were randomly distributed into 11 study groups (n = 6/group), orally administered (5 days on, 2 days off) with water (control), ethanol (10, 20, 30, 40 or 50%), or ethanol (10, 20, 30, 40 or 50%) plus resveratrol (10 mg/Kg/day) for 2 months. Subsequently, the production of nitrites, malondialdehyde, and 4-hydroxy-alkenal (HNE) and the enzymatic activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were quantified.

Results

The levels of nitric oxide and lipid peroxidation products were significantly increased in each ethanol concentration and were statistically different compared to the control group; however, resveratrol significantly reduced oxidative stress caused by high ethanol concentration. The SOD and CAT did not present significant changes with respect to the controls in any of the study groups. In the different concentrations of ethanol used, GR increases significantly in the groups administered with resveratrol but not GPx. Resveratrol was shown to maintain the results similar to the control at most ethanol concentrations.

Discussion

Our results suggest that resveratrol prevents oxidative stress induced by ethanol in the hippocampus by decreasing cellular lipid peroxidation, but does not prevent the activation of catalase or SOD enzymes; however, allows glutathione to be kept active and in adequate concentrations in its reduced form and avoids alterations in the locomotor system.

The Anti-Apoptotic Effect of Ranolazine on Cerebral Protection during Cardiopulmonary Bypass and Carotid Artery Surgery

Background

We aimed to determine the usability of ranolazine (Rn) as a neuroprotective during cardiac surgeries and carotid artery interventions where cerebral blood flow is interrupted.

Methods

Female Wistar albino rats were used. The rats were divided into 4 groups of 8 rats each. The first group (Group 1) was the control group. Group 2 underwent ischemia induction but was not treated with Rn. Group 3 received 25 mg/kg/day and Group 4 50 mg/kg/day Rn intraperitoneally, starting 3 days before ischemia induction. Bilateral carotid arteries were explored and clamped simultaneously. Ischemia was induced for 15 minutes. After 72 hours, the experimental animals were sacrificed.

Results

Superoxide dismutase, alkaline phosphatase, and interleukin 6 levels were similar among the 4 groups. Acetylcholine esterase (Group 3: p = 0.007, Group 4: p = 0.002), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (Group 4: p = 0.01), and annexin V (Group 3: p = 0.001) levels were statistically significantly lower in the Rn-treated groups. Malondialdehyde (Group 3: p = 0.003, Group 4: p = 0.009), reduced glutathione (Group 4: p = 0.04), acid phosphatase (Group 3: p = 0.04), noradrenaline (Group 3: p = 0.01), and Bcl-2 (Group 4: p = 0.004) levels were significantly higher in the Rn-treated groups.

Conclusions

The results of this study demonstrated the antiapoptotic effect of Rn in a brain ischemia-reperfusion model of rats receiving Rn before the procedure.

Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid metabolites affected by WenDanTang based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry

WenDanTang (WDT) is a Chinese herbal formula used to treat various diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases. However, the neuroprotective metabolic pathways and the components involved in this process are not fully understood. In this study, we examined the neuroprotective metabolic pathways of WDT in rat brains using cerebrospinal fluid metabolomics and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry. Twelve rats were randomly divided into a WDT (administrated with WDT solution) and a control group. The ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography technique was used to explore the components of the WDT solution and cerebrospinal fluid, and secondary mass spectra of cerebrospinal fluid were used to identify possible brain-incorporating components after WDT. The results of the differential metabolism analysis showed that eight metabolites were typically altered (all p < 0.05). By comparing the secondary mass spectra of the cerebrospinal fluid of rats and WDT solution, two possible brain-incorporating components of WDT, stachydrine and α-methoxyphenylacetic acid, were identified. The data also suggested that WDT affects nucleotide metabolism, glutathione metabolism, and B-vitamin metabolic pathways, the central differential metabolic pathways. These data suggest that WDT protects neurons through its active components, such as stachydrine, and regulates biochemical metabolism to affect the brain's energy metabolism and antioxidant capacity.

Modulation of Multidrug Resistance Protein 1-mediated Transport Processes by the Antiviral Drug Ritonavir in Cultured Primary Astrocytes

The Multidrug Resistance Protein 1 (Mrp1) is an ATP-dependent efflux transporter and a major facilitator of drug resistance in mammalian cells during cancer and HIV therapy. In brain, Mrp1-mediated GSH export from astrocytes is the first step in the supply of GSH precursors to neurons. To reveal potential mechanisms underlying the drug-induced modulation of Mrp1-mediated transport processes, we investigated the effects of the antiviral drug ritonavir on cultured rat primary astrocytes. Ritonavir strongly stimulated the Mrp1-mediated export of glutathione (GSH) by decreasing the Km value from 200 nmol/mg to 28 nmol/mg. In contrast, ritonavir decreased the export of the other Mrp1 substrates glutathione disulfide (GSSG) and bimane-glutathione. To give explanation for these apparently contradictory observations, we performed in silico docking analysis and molecular dynamics simulations using a homology model of rat Mrp1 to predict the binding modes of ritonavir, GSH and GSSG to Mrp1. The results suggest that ritonavir binds to the hydrophilic part of the bipartite binding site of Mrp1 and thereby differently affects the binding and transport of the Mrp1 substrates. These new insights into the modulation of Mrp1-mediated export processes by ritonavir provide a new model to better understand GSH-dependent detoxification processes in brain cells.

Post-Translational Oxidative Modifications of Hemostasis Proteins: Structure, Function, and Regulation

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are constantly generated in a living organism. An imbalance between the amount of generated reactive species in the body and their destruction leads to the development of oxidative stress. Proteins are extremely vulnerable targets for ROS molecules, which can cause oxidative modifications of amino acid residues, thus altering structure and function of intra- and extracellular proteins. The current review considers the effect of oxidation on the structural rearrangements and functional activity of hemostasis proteins: coagulation system proteins such as fibrinogen, prothrombin/thrombin, factor VII/VIIa; anticoagulant proteins - thrombomodulin and protein C; proteins of the fibrinolytic system such as plasminogen, tissue plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1. Structure and function of the proteins, oxidative modifications, and their detrimental consequences resulting from the induced oxidation or oxidative stress in vivo are described. Possible effects of oxidative modifications of proteins in vitro and in vivo leading to disruption of the coagulation and fibrinolysis processes are summarized and systematized, and the possibility of a compensatory mechanism in maintaining hemostasis under oxidative stress is analyzed.

An in-silico approach to identify bioactive phytochemicals from Houttuynia cordata Thunb. As potential inhibitors of human glutathione reductase

Cellular infections are central to the etiology of various diseases, notably cancer and malaria. Counteracting cellular oxidative stress via the inhibition of glutathione reductase (GR) has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy. Houttuynia cordata, a medicinal plant known for its potent antioxidant properties, has been the focus of our investigation. In this study, we conducted comprehensive in silico analyses involving the phytochemical constituents of H. cordata to identify potential natural GR inhibitors. Our methodological approach encompassed multiple in silico techniques, including molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, MMPBSA analysis, and dynamic cross-correlation analysis. Out of 13 docked phytochemicals, Quercetin, Quercitrin, and Sesamin emerged as particularly noteworthy due to their exceptional binding affinities for GR. Notably, our investigation demonstrated that Quercetin and Sesamin exhibited promising outcomes compared to the well-established pharmaceutical agent N-acetylcysteine (NAC). Molecular dynamics analyses provided insights into the ability of these phytochemicals to induce structural compaction and stabilization of the GR protein, as evidenced by changes in radius of gyration and solvent-accessible surface area. Moreover, MMPBSA analysis highlighted the crucial roles of specific residues, namely Gly27, Gly28, Ser51, His52, and Val61, in mediating essential interactions with these phytochemicals. Furthermore, an assessment of Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity (ADME-Tox) profiles underscored the favourable drug-like attributes of these phytochemicals. Thus, the current findings underscore the immense potential of Houttuynia cordata phytochemicals as potent antioxidants with the capacity to combat a spectrum of maladies, including malaria and cancer. This study not only unveils novel therapeutic avenues but also underscores the distinctive outcomes and paramount significance of harnessing H. cordata phytochemicals for their efficacious antioxidant properties.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Transsulfuration pathway: a targeting neuromodulator in Parkinson's disease

The transsulfuration pathway (TSP) is a metabolic pathway involving sulfur transfer from homocysteine to cysteine. Transsulfuration pathway leads to many sulfur metabolites, principally glutathione, H2S, taurine, and cysteine. Key enzymes of the TSP, such as cystathionine β-synthase and cystathionine γ-lyase, are essential regulators at multiple levels in this pathway. TSP metabolites are implicated in many physiological processes in the central nervous system and other tissues. TSP is important in controlling sulfur balance and optimal cellular functions such as glutathione synthesis. Alterations in the TSP and related pathways (transmethylation and remethylation) are altered in several neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease, suggesting their participation in the pathophysiology and progression of these diseases. In Parkinson's disease many cellular processes are comprised mainly those that regulate redox homeostasis, inflammation, reticulum endoplasmic stress, mitochondrial function, oxidative stress, and sulfur content metabolites of TSP are involved in these damage processes. Current research on the transsulfuration pathway in Parkinson's disease has primarily focused on the synthesis and function of certain metabolites, particularly glutathione. However, our understanding of the regulation of other metabolites of the transsulfuration pathway, as well as their relationships with other metabolites, and their synthesis regulation in Parkinson´s disease remain limited. Thus, this paper highlights the importance of studying the molecular dynamics in different metabolites and enzymes that affect the transsulfuration in Parkinson's disease.

Impact of Baizhu, Daqingye, and Hehuanhua extracts on the human gut microbiome

Introduction

In traditional Chinese medicine, the rhizome of Atractylodes macrocephala (Baizhu), the leaves of Isatis indigotica (Daqingye), and the flowers of Albizia julibrissin (Hehuanhua) have been used to treat gastrointestinal illnesses, epidemics, and mental health issues. Modern researchers are now exploring the underlying mechanisms responsible for their efficacy. Previous studies often focused on the impact of purified chemicals or mixed extracts from these plants on cells in tissue culture or in rodent models.

Methods

As modulation of the human gut microbiome has been linked to host health status both within the gastrointestinal tract and in distant tissues, the effects of lipid-free ethanol extracts of Baizhu, Daqingye, and Hehuanhua on the human adult gut microbiome were assessed using Systemic Intestinal Fermentation Research (SIFR®) technology (n=6).

Results and discussion

Baizhu and Daqingye extracts similarly impacted microbial community structure and function, with the extent of effects being more pronounced for Baizhu. These effects included decreases in the Bacteroidetes phylum and increases in health-related Bifidobacterium spp. and short chain fatty acids which may contribute to Baizhu's efficacy against gastrointestinal ailments. The changes upon Hehuanhua treatment were larger and included increases in multiple bacterial species, including Agathobaculum butyriciproducens, Adlercreutzia equolifaciens, and Gordonibacter pamelaeae, known to produce secondary metabolites beneficial to mental health. In addition, many of the changes induced by Hehuanhua correlated with a rise in Enterobacteriaceae spp., which may make the tested dose of this herb contraindicated for some individuals. Overall, there is some evidence to suggest that the palliative effect of these herbs may be mediated, in part, by their impact on the gut microbiome, but more research is needed to elucidate the exact mechanisms.

Optimized Separation of Carthamin from Safflower by Macroporous Adsorption Resins and Its Protective Effects on PC12 Cells Injured by OGD/R via Nrf2 Signaling Pathway

The growing demand for safe natural products has reignited people's interest in natural food pigments. Here, we proposed the use of macroporous adsorption resins (MARs) to separate and purify carthamin from safflower. The optimal parameters for carthamin purification with HPD400 MAR were determined as follows: a mass ratio of crude carthamin in sample solution to wet resin of 0.3, a crude carthamin solution concentration of 0.125 g·mL-1, a pH of 6.00, a sample volume flow rate of 0.5 mL·min-1, an ethanol volume fraction of 58%, an elution volume of 4 BV, and an elution volume flow rate of 1.0 mL·min-1. Under the above purification conditions, the recovery rate of carthamin was above 96%. Carthamin dramatically improved the survival rate of PC12 cells damaged by oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation and protected them from oxidative stress by inhibiting the generation of reactive oxygen species and increasing the total antioxidant capacity and glutathione (GSH) levels. Carthamin promoted extracellularly regulated protein kinase phosphorylation into the nucleus, permitting Nrf2 nuclear translocation and upregulating the gene expression of the rate-limiting enzymes glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit and glutamate-cysteine ligase regulatory subunit of GSH synthesis to obliterate free radicals and exert antioxidant effects. This study revealed the purification method of carthamin and its antioxidant protective effects, providing important insights into the application of carthamin in functional foods.

Natural products for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases

BACKGROUND

Neurodegenerative diseases are among the most common diseases in older adults worldwide. Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) are two of the most common neurodegenerative diseases, and are accompanied by cerebral cortical atrophy, neuronal loss, protein accumulation, and excessive accumulation of metal ions. Natural products exhibit outstanding performance in improving cerebral circulatory disorders, promoting cerebral haematoma absorption, repairing damaged nerve tissue, and improving damaged nerve function. In recent years, studies have shown that neuroinflammatory mechanisms and signalling pathways closely related to the occurrence and development of neurological diseases include microglial activation, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway, mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK) pathway, reactive oxygen pathway, nucleotide binding oligomerisation domain-like receptor protein3 (NLRP3) inflammasomes, toll-like receptor4 (TLR4) pathway, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1) pathway, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) pathway, and intestinal flora. Therefore, this study considered the mechanism of neurological diseases as the starting point to review the mechanism of action of natural products in the prevention and treatment of AD and PD in recent years to provide a theoretical basis for clinical prevention and treatment.

AIM

Natural products are a promising source of novel lead structures that have long been used to treat various nervous system diseases.

METHODOLOGY

This review collected literature on neurological diseases and natural products from 2012 to 2022, which were mainly searched through databases such as ScienceDirect, Springer, PubMed, SciFinder, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, Google Scholar, and Baidu Academic. The following keywords were searched: neurological disorders, natural products, signalling pathway, mechanism of action.

RESULTS

This review summarises the pathogenesis of degenerative neurological diseases, recent findings on natural products used in neurodegenerative diseases, and the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects.

Untargeted metabolomics reveal pathways associated with neuroprotective effect of oxyresveratrol in SH-SY5Y cells

Oxyresveratrol has been documented benefits for neurodegenerative disease. However, the specific molecular mechanisms and pathways involved is currently limited. This study aimed to investigate the potential neuroprotective mechanisms of oxyresveratrol using rotenone-induced human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cytotoxicity. Cells were divided into the following groups: control, rotenone, and oxyresveratrol pre-treated before being exposed to rotenone. Cellular assays were performed to investigate neuroprotective effects of oxyresveratrol. The results showed that 20 μM oxyresveratrol was effective in preventing rotenone-induced cell death and decreasing ROS levels in the cells. The alteration of metabolites and pathways involved in the neuroprotective activities of oxyresveratrol were further investigated using LC-QTOF-MS/MS untargeted metabolomics approach. We hypothesized that oxyresveratrol's neuroprotective effects would be associated with neurodegenerative pathways. A total of 294 metabolites were identified. 7,8-dihydrobiopterin exhibited the highest VIP scores (VIP > 3.0; p < 0.05), thus considered a biomarker in this study. Our results demonstrated that pretreatment with oxyresveratrol upregulated the level of 7,8-dihydrobiopterin compared to the positive control. Pathway analysis verified that 7,8-dihydrobiopterin was primarily associated with phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan metabolism (impact = 1, p < 0.001), serving as essential cofactors for enzymatic function in the dopamine biosynthesis pathway. In conclusion, oxyresveratrol may be benefit for the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases by increasing 7,8-dihydrobiopterin concentration.

Astrocytic Nrf2 Mediates the Neuroprotective and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Nootkatone in an MPTP-Induced Parkinson's Disease Mouse Model

This study aims to investigate the neuroprotective effects of nootkatone (NKT), a sesquiterpenoid compound isolated from grapefruit, in an MPTP-induced Parkinson's disease (PD) mouse model. NKT restored MPTP-induced motor impairment and dopaminergic neuronal loss and increased the expression of neurotrophic factors like BDNF, GDNF, and PGC-1α. In addition, NKT inhibited microglial and astrocyte activation and the expression of pro-inflammatory markers like iNOS, TNF-α, and IL-1β and oxidative stress markers like 4-HNE and 8-OHdG. NKT increased the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-driven antioxidant enzymes like HO-1 and NQO-1 in astrocytes, but not in neurons or microglia in MPTP-treated mice. To investigate whether Nrf2 mediates the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, or neuroprotective effects of NKT, mice were pretreated with Nrf2-specific inhibitor brusatol (BT) prior to NKT treatment. BT attenuated the NKT-mediated inhibition of 4-HNE and 8-OHdG and the number of Nrf2+/HO-1+/NQO1+ cells co-localized with GFAP+ astrocytes in the substantia nigra of MPTP-treated mice. In addition, BT reversed the effects of NKT on dopaminergic neuronal cell death, neurotrophic factors, and pro-/anti-inflammatory cytokines in MPTP-treated mice. Collectively, these data suggest that astrocytic Nrf2 and its downstream antioxidant molecules play pivotal roles in mediating the neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of NKT in an MPTP-induced PD mouse model.

The Janus face of antipsychotics in glial cells: Focus on glioprotection

Antipsychotics are commonly prescribed to treat several neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, mania in bipolar disorder, autism spectrum disorder, delirium, and organic or secondary psychosis, for example, in dementias such as Alzheimer's disease. There is evidence that typical antipsychotics such as haloperidol are more effective in reducing positive symptoms than negative symptoms and/or cognitive deficits. In contrast, atypical antipsychotic agents have gained popularity over typical antipsychotics, due to fewer extrapyramidal side effects and their theoretical efficacy in controlling both positive and negative symptoms. Although these therapies focus on neuron-based therapeutic schemes, glial cells have been recognized as important regulators of the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders, as well as targets to improve the efficacy of these drugs. Glial cells (astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and microglia) are critical for the central nervous system in both physiological and pathological conditions. Astrocytes are the most abundant glial cells and play important roles in brain homeostasis, regulating neurotransmitter systems and gliotransmission, since they express a wide variety of functional receptors for different neurotransmitters. In addition, converging lines of evidence indicate that psychiatric disorders are commonly associated with the triad neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and excitotoxicity, and that glial cells may contribute to the gliotoxicity process. Conversely, glioprotective molecules attenuate glial damage by generating specific responses that can protect glial cells themselves and/or neurons, resulting in improved central nervous system (CNS) functioning. In this regard, resveratrol is well-recognized as a glioprotective molecule, including in clinical studies of schizophrenia and autism. This review will provide a summary of the dual role of antipsychotics on neurochemical parameters associated with glial functions and will highlight the potential activity of glioprotective molecules to improve the action of antipsychotics.

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Studies of Brain Energy Metabolism in Schizophrenia: Progression from Prodrome to Chronic Psychosis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Schizophrenia (SZ) is a debilitating mental illness; existing treatments are partially effective and associated with significant side effect burden, largely due to our limited understanding of disease mechanisms and the trajectory of disease progression. Accumulating evidence suggests that metabolic changes associated with glucose metabolism, mitochondrial dysfunction, and redox imbalance play an important role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. However, the molecular mechanisms associated with these abnormalities in the brains of schizophrenia patients and the ways in which they change over time remain unclear. This paper aims to review the current literature on molecular mechanisms and in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) studies of impaired energy metabolism in patients at clinical high risk for psychosis, with first-episode SZ, and with chronic SZ. Our review covers research related to high-energy phosphate metabolism, lactate, intracellular pH, redox ratio, and the antioxidant glutathione.

RECENT FINDINGS

Both first-episode and chronic SZ patients display a significant reduction in creatine kinase reaction activity and redox (NAD + /NADH) ratio in the prefrontal cortex. Chronic, but not first-episode, SZ patients also show a trend toward increased lactate levels and decreased pH value. These findings suggest a progressive shift from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis for energy production over the course of SZ, which is associated with redox imbalance and mitochondrial dysfunction. Accumulating evidence indicates that aberrant brain energy metabolism associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and redox imbalance plays a critical role in SZ and will be a promising target for future treatments.

Advance in the pharmacological effects of quercetin in modulating oxidative stress and inflammation related disorders

Numerous pharmacological effects of quercetin have been illustrated, including antiinflammation, antioxidation, and anticancer properties. In recent years, the antioxidant activity of quercetin has been extensively reported, in particular, its impacts on glutathione, enzyme activity, signaling transduction pathways, and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Quercetin has also been demonstrated to exert a striking antiinflammatory effect mainly by inhibiting the production of cytokines, reducing the expression of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase, and preserving the integrity of mast cells. By regulating oxidative stress and inflammation, which are regarded as two critical processes involved in the defense and regular physiological operation of biological systems, quercetin has been validated to be effective in treating a variety of disorders. Symptoms of these reactions have been linked to degenerative processes and metabolic disorders, including metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular, neurodegeneration, cancer, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Despite that evidence demonstrates that antioxidants are employed to prevent excessive oxidative and inflammatory processes, there are still concerns regarding the expense, accessibility, and side effects of agents. Notably, natural products, especially those derived from plants, are widely accessible, affordable, and generally safe. In this review, the antioxidant and antiinflammatory abilities of the active ingredient quercetin and its application in oxidative stress-related disorders have been outlined in detail.

Improving the developmental competences of porcine parthenogenetic embryos by Notoginsenoside R1-induced enhancement of mitochondrial activity and alleviation of proapoptotic events

Notoginsenoside R1 (NGR1), derived from the Panax notoginseng root and rhizome, exhibits diverse pharmacological influences on the brain, neurons, and osteoblasts, such as antioxidant effects, mitochondrial function protection, energy metabolism regulation, and inhibition of oxygen radicals, apoptosis, and cellular autophagy. However, its effect on early porcine embryonic development remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated NGR1's effects on blastocyst quality, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, glutathione (GSH) levels, mitochondrial function, and embryonic development-related gene expression in porcine embryos by introducing NGR1 during the in vitro culture (IVC) of early porcine embryos. Our results indicate that an addition of 1 μM NGR1 significantly increased glutathione (GSH) levels, blastocyst formation rate, and total cell number and proliferation capacity; decreased ROS levels and apoptosis rates in orphan-activated porcine embryos; and improved intracellular mitochondrial distribution, enhanced membrane potential, and reduced autophagy. In addition, pluripotency-related factor levels were elevated (NANOG and octamer-binding transcription factor 4 [OCT4]), antioxidant-related genes were upregulated (nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 [NRF2]), and apoptosis- (caspase 3 [CAS3]) and autophagy-related genes (light chain 3 [LC3B]) were downregulated. These results indicate that NGR1 can enhance early porcine embryonic development by protecting mitochondrial function.

Mechanisms Associated with Cognitive and Behavioral Impairment Induced by Arsenic Exposure

Arsenic (As) is a metalloid naturally present in the environment, in food, water, soil, and air; however, its chronic exposure, even with low doses, represents a public health concern. For a long time, As was used as a pigment, pesticide, wood preservative, and for medical applications; its industrial use has recently decreased or has been discontinued due to its toxicity. Due to its versatile applications and distribution, there is a wide spectrum of human As exposure sources, mainly contaminated drinking water. The fact that As is present in drinking water implies chronic human exposure to this metalloid; it has become a worldwide health problem, since over 200 million people live where As levels exceed safe ranges. Many health problems have been associated with As chronic exposure including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, gastrointestinal disturbances, and brain dysfunctions. Because As can cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB), the brain represents a target organ where this metalloid can exert its long-term toxic effects. Many mechanisms of As neurotoxicity have been described: oxidative stress, inflammation, DNA damage, and mitochondrial dysfunction; all of them can converge, thus leading to impaired cellular functions, cell death, and in consequence, long-term detrimental effects. Here, we provide a current overview of As toxicity and integrated the global mechanisms involved in cognitive and behavioral impairment induced by As exposure show experimental strategies against its neurotoxicity.

Schizophrenia and Glutathione: A Challenging Story

Schizophrenia (SZ) is a devastating mental illness with a complex and heterogeneous clinical state. Several conditions like symptoms, stage and severity of the disease are only some of the variables that have to be considered to define the disorder and its phenotypes. SZ pathophysiology is still unclear, and the diagnosis is currently relegated to the analysis of clinical symptoms; therefore, the search for biomarkers with diagnostic relevance is a major challenge in the field, especially in the era of personalized medicine. Though the mechanisms implicated in SZ are not fully understood, some processes are beginning to be elucidated. Oxidative stress, and in particular glutathione (GSH) dysregulation, has been demonstrated to play a crucial role in SZ pathophysiology. In fact, glutathione is a leading actor of oxidative-stress-mediated damage in SZ and appears to reflect the heterogeneity of the disease. The literature reports differing results regarding the levels of glutathione in SZ patients. However, each GSH state may be a sign of specific symptoms or groups of symptoms, candidating glutathione as a biomarker useful for discriminating SZ phenotypes. Here, we summarize the literature about the levels of glutathione in SZ and analyze the role of this molecule and its potential use as a biomarker.

An Overview of Recent Advances in the Neuroprotective Potentials of Fisetin against Diverse Insults in Neurological Diseases and the Underlying Signaling Pathways

The nervous system plays a leading role in the regulation of physiological functions and activities in the body. However, a variety of diseases related to the nervous system have a serious impact on human health. It is increasingly clear that neurological diseases are multifactorial pathological processes involving multiple cellular systems, and the onset of these diseases usually involves a diverse array of molecular mechanisms. Unfortunately, no effective therapy exists to slow down the progression or prevent the development of diseases only through the regulation of a single factor. To this end, it is pivotal to seek an ideal therapeutic approach for challenging the complicated pathological process to achieve effective treatment. In recent years, fisetin, a kind of flavonoid widely existing in fruits, vegetables and other plants, has shown numerous interesting biological activities with clinical potentials including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and neurotrophic effects. In addition, fisetin has been reported to have diverse pharmacological properties and neuroprotective potentials against various neurological diseases. The neuroprotective effects were ascribed to its unique biological properties and multiple clinical pharmacological activities associated with the treatment of different neurological disorders. In this review, we summarize recent research progress regarding the neuroprotective potential of fisetin and the underlying signaling pathways of the treatment of several neurological diseases.

A systematic review of the neuropathology and memory decline induced by monosodium glutamate in the Alzheimer's disease-like animal model

This systematic review analyzes monosodium glutamate (MSG) in the Alzheimer's disease-like condition to enhance translational research. Our review seeks to understand how MSG affects the brain and causes degenerative disorders. Due to significant preclinical data linking glutamate toxicity to Alzheimer's disease and the lack of a comprehensive review or meta-analysis, we initiated a study on MSG's potential link. We searched PubMed, ScienceDirect, ProQuest, DOAJ, and Scopus for animal research and English language papers without time constraints. This study used the PRISMA-P framework and PICO technique to collect population, intervention or exposure, comparison, and result data. It was registered in PROSPERO as CRD42022371502. MSG affected mice's exploratory behaviors and short-term working memory. The brain, hippocampus, and cerebellar tissue demonstrated neuronal injury-related histological and histomorphometric changes. A total of 70% of MSG-treated mice had poor nesting behavior. The treated mice also had more hyperphosphorylated tau protein in their cortical and hippocampus neurons. Glutamate and glutamine levels in the brain increased with MSG, and dose-dependent mixed horizontal locomotor, grooming, and anxiety responses reduced. MSG treatment significantly decreased phospho-CREB protein levels, supporting the idea that neurons were harmed, despite the increased CREB mRNA expression. High MSG doses drastically lower brain tissue and serum serotonin levels. In conclusion, MSG showed AD-like pathology, neuronal atrophy, and short-term memory impairment. Further research with a longer time span and deeper behavioral characterization is needed. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier [CRD42022371502].

From imbalance to impairment: the central role of reactive oxygen species in oxidative stress-induced disorders and therapeutic exploration

Increased production and buildup of reactive oxygen species (ROS) can lead to various health issues, including metabolic problems, cancers, and neurological conditions. Our bodies counteract ROS with biological antioxidants such as SOD, CAT, and GPx, which help prevent cellular damage. However, if there is an imbalance between ROS and these antioxidants, it can result in oxidative stress. This can cause genetic and epigenetic changes at the molecular level. This review delves into how ROS plays a role in disorders caused by oxidative stress. We also look at animal models used for researching ROS pathways. This study offers insights into the mechanism, pathology, epigenetic changes, and animal models to assist in drug development and disease understanding.

Neuroprotective Effect of Ethanolic Extract of Scoparia dulcis on Acrylamide-Induced Neurotoxicity in Zebrafish Model

All herbal medicines are reported to be safe and have better results in curing disabilities. Scoparia dulcis is known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This study has been executed to explore the neuroprotective effects of ethanolic extract of Scoparia dulcis (EESD) against acrylamide using adult zebrafish. The experimental period was 72 h. After fixing the optimum acrylamide concentration and EESD, the healthy adult fish were grouped into control, induction, and treatment. During the experimental period, behavioural changes such as memory and locomotion were observed in control and experimental groups using the T-maze experiment. After 72 h, the neuronal tissues were isolated from the grouped fishes and analysed for various biochemical and enzymatic assays. The mRNA of the HSP-70 gene in control and experimental groups was expressed using RT-PCR. The optimum dosages for acrylamide and EESD were found to be 0.75 mM and 20 µg/mL, respectively. Memory improvement was observed in S. dulcis-treated fish, compared to the acrylamide-treated group using the T-maze assay. The extract reduced the toxicity induced by acrylamide from the various biochemical and histopathological parameters. The result shows the potential neuroprotective effects of ethanolic extract of Scoparia dulcis (EESD) against acrylamide-induced neurotoxicity in adult zebrafish. Therefore, Scoparia dulcis is a potent neuroprotective agent.

Oxytocin as neuro-hormone and neuro-regulator exert neuroprotective properties: A mechanistic graphical review

BACKGROUND

Neurodegeneration is progressive cell loss in specific neuronal populations, often resulting in clinical consequences with significant medical, societal, and economic implications. Because of its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties, oxytocin has been proposed as a potential neuroprotective and neurobehavioral therapeutic agent, including modulating mood disturbances and cognitive enchantment.

METHODS

Literature searches were conducted using the following databases Web of Science, PubMed, Elsevier Science Direct, Google Scholar, the Core Collection, and Cochrane from January 2000 to February 2023 for articles dealing with oxytocin neuroprotective properties in preventing or treating neurodegenerative disorders and diseases with a focus on oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis/cell death.

RESULTS

The neuroprotective effects of oxytocin appears to be mediated by its anti-inflammatory properties, inhibition of neuro inflammation, activation of several antioxidant enzymes, inhibition of oxidative stress and free radical formation, activation of free radical scavengers, prevent of mitochondrial dysfunction, and inhibition of apoptosis.

CONCLUSION

Oxytocin acts as a neuroprotective agent by preventing neuro-apoptosis, neuro-inflammation, and neuronal oxidative stress, and by restoring mitochondrial function.

Low Dopamine D2 Receptor Expression Drives Gene Networks Related to GABA, cAMP, Growth and Neuroinflammation in Striatal Indirect Pathway Neurons

Background

A salient effect of addictive drugs is to hijack the dopamine reward system, an evolutionarily conserved driver of goal-directed behavior and learning. Reduced dopamine type 2 receptor availability in the striatum is an important pathophysiological mechanism for addiction that is both consequential and causal for other molecular, cellular, and neuronal network differences etiologic for this disorder. Here, we sought to identify gene expression changes attributable to innate low expression of the Drd2 gene in the striatum and specific to striatal indirect medium spiny neurons (iMSNs).

Methods

Cre-conditional, translating ribosome affinity purification (TRAP) was used to purify and analyze the translatome (ribosome-bound messenger RNA) of iMSNs from mice with low/heterozygous or wild-type Drd2 expression in iMSNs. Complementary electrophysiological recordings and gene expression analysis of postmortem brain tissue from human cocaine users were performed.

Results

Innate low expression of Drd2 in iMSNs led to differential expression of genes involved in GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) and cAMP (cyclic adenosine monophosphate) signaling, neural growth, lipid metabolism, neural excitability, and inflammation. Creb1 was identified as a likely upstream regulator, among others. In human brain, expression of FXYD2, a modulatory subunit of the Na/K pump, was negatively correlated with DRD2 messenger RNA expression. In iMSN-TRAP-Drd2HET mice, increased Cartpt and reduced S100a10 (p11) expression recapitulated previous observations in cocaine paradigms. Electrophysiology experiments supported a higher GABA tone in iMSN-Drd2HET mice.

Conclusions

This study provides strong molecular evidence that, in addiction, inhibition by the indirect pathway is constitutively enhanced through neural growth and increased GABA signaling.

Deciphering the Mysterious Relationship between the Cross-Pathogenetic Mechanisms of Neurodegenerative and Oncological Diseases

The relationship between oncological pathologies and neurodegenerative disorders is extremely complex and is a topic of concern among a growing number of researchers around the world. In recent years, convincing scientific evidence has accumulated that indicates the contribution of a number of etiological factors and pathophysiological processes to the pathogenesis of these two fundamentally different diseases, thus demonstrating an intriguing relationship between oncology and neurodegeneration. In this review, we establish the general links between three intersecting aspects of oncological pathologies and neurodegenerative disorders, i.e., oxidative stress, epigenetic dysregulation, and metabolic dysfunction, examining each process in detail to establish an unusual epidemiological relationship. We also focus on reviewing the current trends in the research and the clinical application of the most promising chemical structures and therapeutic platforms that have a modulating effect on the above processes. Thus, our comprehensive analysis of the set of molecular determinants that have obvious cross-functional pathways in the pathogenesis of oncological and neurodegenerative diseases can help in the creation of advanced diagnostic tools and in the development of innovative pharmacological strategies.