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Carretero VJ, Ramos E, Segura-Chama P, Hernández A, Baraibar AM, Álvarez-Merz I, Muñoz FL, Egea J, Solís JM, Romero A, Hernández-Guijo JM. Non-Excitatory Amino Acids, Melatonin, and Free Radicals: Examining the Role in Stroke and Aging. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:1844. [PMID: 37891922 PMCID: PMC10603966 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12101844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this review is to explore the relationship between melatonin, free radicals, and non-excitatory amino acids, and their role in stroke and aging. Melatonin has garnered significant attention in recent years due to its diverse physiological functions and potential therapeutic benefits by reducing oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. Melatonin has been found to mitigate ischemic brain damage caused by stroke. By scavenging free radicals and reducing oxidative damage, melatonin may help slow down the aging process and protect against age-related cognitive decline. Additionally, non-excitatory amino acids have been shown to possess neuroprotective properties, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory in stroke and aging-related conditions. They can attenuate oxidative stress, modulate calcium homeostasis, and inhibit apoptosis, thereby safeguarding neurons against damage induced by stroke and aging processes. The intracellular accumulation of certain non-excitatory amino acids could promote harmful effects during hypoxia-ischemia episodes and thus, the blockade of the amino acid transporters involved in the process could be an alternative therapeutic strategy to reduce ischemic damage. On the other hand, the accumulation of free radicals, specifically mitochondrial reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, accelerates cellular senescence and contributes to age-related decline. Recent research suggests a complex interplay between melatonin, free radicals, and non-excitatory amino acids in stroke and aging. The neuroprotective actions of melatonin and non-excitatory amino acids converge on multiple pathways, including the regulation of calcium homeostasis, modulation of apoptosis, and reduction of inflammation. These mechanisms collectively contribute to the preservation of neuronal integrity and functions, making them promising targets for therapeutic interventions in stroke and age-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Jiménez Carretero
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutic, Teófilo Hernando Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Av. Arzobispo Morcillo 4, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Eva Ramos
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Pedro Segura-Chama
- Investigador por México-CONAHCYT, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría "Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz", Calzada México-Xochimilco 101, Huipulco, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14370, Mexico
| | - Adan Hernández
- Institute of Neurobiology, Universidad Nacional Autónoma of México, Juriquilla, Santiago de Querétaro 76230, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Andrés M Baraibar
- Department of Neurosciences, Universidad del País Vasco UPV/EHU, Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, Barrio Sarriena, s/n, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Iris Álvarez-Merz
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutic, Teófilo Hernando Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Av. Arzobispo Morcillo 4, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco López Muñoz
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University Camilo José Cela, C/Castillo de Alarcón 49, Villanueva de la Cañada, 28692 Madrid, Spain
- Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, Hospital 12 de Octubre Research Institute (i + 12), Avda. Córdoba, s/n, 28041 Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Egea
- Molecular Neuroinflammation and Neuronal Plasticity Research Laboratory, Hospital Universitario Santa Cristina, Health Research Institute, Hospital Universitario de la Princesa, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - José M Solís
- Neurobiology-Research Service, Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Carretera de Colmenar Viejo, Km. 9, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Alejandro Romero
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús M Hernández-Guijo
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutic, Teófilo Hernando Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Av. Arzobispo Morcillo 4, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Ramón y Cajal Institute for Health Research (IRYCIS), Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Carretera de Colmenar Viejo, Km. 9, 28029 Madrid, Spain
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Álvarez-Merz I, Fomitcheva IV, Sword J, Hernández-Guijo JM, Solís JM, Kirov SA. Novel mechanism of hypoxic neuronal injury mediated by non-excitatory amino acids and astroglial swelling. Glia 2022; 70:2108-2130. [PMID: 35802030 PMCID: PMC9474671 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
In ischemic stroke and post-traumatic brain injury (TBI), blood-brain barrier disruption leads to leaking plasma amino acids (AA) into cerebral parenchyma. Bleeding in hemorrhagic stroke and TBI also release plasma AA. Although excitotoxic AA were extensively studied, little is known about non-excitatory AA during hypoxic injury. Hypoxia-induced synaptic depression in hippocampal slices becomes irreversible with non-excitatory AA, alongside their intracellular accumulation and increased tissue electrical resistance. Four non-excitatory AA (l-alanine, glycine, l-glutamine, l-serine: AGQS) at plasmatic concentrations were applied to slices from mice expressing EGFP in pyramidal neurons or astrocytes during normoxia or hypoxia. Two-photon imaging, light transmittance (LT) changes, and electrophysiological field recordings followed by electron microscopy in hippocampal CA1 st. radiatum were used to monitor synaptic function concurrently with cellular swelling and injury. During normoxia, AGQS-induced increase in LT was due to astroglial but not neuronal swelling. LT raise during hypoxia and AGQS manifested astroglial and neuronal swelling accompanied by a permanent loss of synaptic transmission and irreversible dendritic beading, signifying acute damage. Neuronal injury was not triggered by spreading depolarization which did not occur in our experiments. Hypoxia without AGQS did not cause cell swelling, leaving dendrites intact. Inhibition of NMDA receptors prevented neuronal damage and irreversible loss of synaptic function. Deleterious effects of AGQS during hypoxia were prevented by alanine-serine-cysteine transporters (ASCT2) and volume-regulated anion channels (VRAC) blockers. Our findings suggest that astroglial swelling induced by accumulation of non-excitatory AA and release of excitotoxins through antiporters and VRAC may exacerbate the hypoxia-induced neuronal injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris Álvarez-Merz
- Dept. de Farmacología y Terapéutica, ITH, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, IRYCIS, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Servicio de Neurobiología-Investigación, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, IRYCIS, 28034 Madrid, Spain
- Dept. of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia 30912, USA
| | - Ioulia V. Fomitcheva
- Dept. of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia 30912, USA
| | - Jeremy Sword
- Dept. of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia 30912, USA
| | - Jesús M. Hernández-Guijo
- Dept. de Farmacología y Terapéutica, ITH, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, IRYCIS, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - José M. Solís
- Servicio de Neurobiología-Investigación, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, IRYCIS, 28034 Madrid, Spain
| | - Sergei A. Kirov
- Dept. of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia 30912, USA
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