Hydroxypyridinone-Diamine Hybrids as Potential Neuroprotective Agents in the PC12 Cell-Line Model of Alzheimer's Disease

A Hydroxyquinoline Polymer with Excellent Amyloidosis Inhibition and Protein Delivery Ability to Combat Amyloid-β-Mediated Neurotoxicity

The accumulation of abnormal protein deposits known as amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques contributes to the development and progression of Alzheimer's disease. Aggregated Aβ exacerbates oxidative stress by stimulating the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in a detrimental feedback loop. 8-Hydroxyquinoline (8-HQ) is recognized for its ability to inhibit or reverse Aβ aggregation and reduce neurotoxicity. Here, an 8-HQ-based polymer, DHQ, was developed to combat Aβ-mediated neurotoxicity by delivering an antioxidant enzyme. DHQ efficiently delivers superoxide dismutase into targeted cells, thereby downregulating the intracellular ROS level. Additionally, the polymer effectively inhibits the fibrillization of three proteins involved in fibrosis, β-lactoglobulin (BLG), insulin, and Aβ1-40, at nanomolar concentrations. Cell culture models demonstrated that DHQ reduces ROS levels induced by Aβ1-40 aggregation, rescuing cell viability and preventing apoptosis. Intracellular delivery of SOD further enhanced the ability to maintain the ROS homeostasis. This polymer offers a multifaceted approach to treating diseases associated with amyloidosis.

The role of neuron-like cell lines and primary neuron cell models in unraveling the complexity of neurodegenerative diseases: a comprehensive review

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are characterized by the progressive loss of neurons. As to developing effective therapeutic interventions, it is crucial to understand the underlying mechanisms of NDs. Cellular models have become invaluable tools for studying the complex pathogenesis of NDs, offering insights into disease mechanisms, determining potential therapeutic targets, and aiding in drug discovery. This review provides a comprehensive overview of various cellular models used in ND research, focusing on Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Cell lines, such as SH-SY5Y and PC12 cells, have emerged as valuable tools due to their ease of use, reproducibility, and scalability. Additionally, co-culture models, involving the growth of distinct cell types like neurons and astrocytes together, are highlighted for simulating brain interactions and microenvironment. While cell lines cannot fully replicate the complexity of the human brain, they provide a scalable method for examining important aspects of neurodegenerative diseases. Advancements in cell line technologies, including the incorporation of patient-specific genetic variants and improved co-culture models, hold promise for enhancing our understanding and expediting the development of effective treatments. Integrating multiple cellular models and advanced technologies offers the potential for significant progress in unraveling the intricacies of these debilitating diseases and improving patient outcomes.

Lutein attenuated methylglyoxal-induced oxidative damage and apoptosis in PC12 cells via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway

Methylglyoxal (MGO), a cytotoxic byproduct of glycolysis, causes neuro oxidative damage and apoptosis, and plays key roles in diabetic encephalopathy (DE). The goal of this research was to evaluate the roles of lutein attenuated MGO-induced damage in PC12 cells as well as the underlying mechanisms. The findings of this study showed that lutein has a significant impact on reducing the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress in MGO-induced PC12 cells, which may be attributed to the increased antioxidant enzymes activity and the decreased MDA levels. Moreover, treatment with lutein also alleviated cell apoptosis and mitochondrial damage. Real-time PCR and western blot analysis showed that lutein enhanced the Bcl-2:Bax ratio, inhibited the expression of caspase-3 and caspase-9, and increased the protein level of phosphorylated Akt. The network pharmacology and molecular docking prediction results suggested that the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathway was a potential mechanism of lutein in DE treatment. Furthermore, LY294002, a specific PI3K inhibitor, partially abolished the protective effect of lutein. These results presented that lutein attenuated oxidative damage and apoptosis triggered by MGO in PC12 cells via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Lutein is a common carotenoid dispersed in fruits and vegetables. This article confirmed a protective effect of lutein on oxidative damage and apoptosis in PC12 cells after MGO damage. These results indicated that lutein could potentially be developed as a nutraceutical or functional food in the prevention of diabetic-related neurodegenerative diseases.

A novel multi-target strategy to attenuate the progression of Parkinson's disease by diamine hybrid AGE/ALE inhibitor

Instead of a conventional 'one-drug-one-target approach', this article presents a novel multi-target approach with a concept of trapping simultaneously as many detrimental factors as possible involved in the progression of Parkinson's disease. These factors include reactive carbonyl species, reactive oxygen species, Fe^3+/Cu²⁺ and ortho-quinones (o-quinone), in particular. Different from the known multi-target strategies for Parkinson's disease, it is a sort of 'vacuum cleaning' strategy. The new agent consists of reactive carbonyl species scavenging moiety and reactive oxygen species scavenging and metal chelating moiety linked by a spacer. Provided that the capacity of scavenging o-quinones is demonstrated, this type of agent can further broaden its potential therapeutic profile. In order to support this new hypothetical approach, a number of simple in vitro experiments are proposed.