The neuroprotective effect of isatin in the rotenone-induced model of parkinonism in rats: the study of delayed effects.

Parkinsonism in rats induced by the pesticide rotenone is one of the most adequate models of Parkinson's disease (PD). Isatin (indole-2,3-dione) is an endogenous regulator found in mammals and humans and exhibiting a wide range of biological activities mediated by numerous isatin-binding proteins, including those associated with neurodegenerative pathology. A course of rotenone administration to rats caused behavioral impairments and changes in the profile and relative content of isatin-binding proteins in the brain. In this study, we have investigated the delayed neuroprotective effect of isatin (5 days after completion of the course of rotenone administration) on behavioral reactions and the relative content of isatin-binding proteins in the brain of rats with rotenone-induced experimental parkinsonism. Although during this period the rats retained locomotor dysfunction, the proteomic analysis data (profile of isatin-binding proteins in the brain and changes in their relative content) differed from the results obtained immediately after completion of the course of rotenone administration. Moreover, all isatin-binding proteins with altered relative content changed during this period are associated to varying degrees with neurodegeneration (many with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases).

HDAC/H3K27ac-mediated transcription of NDUFA3 exerts protective effects on high glucose-treated human nucleus pulposus cells through improving mitochondrial function.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a well-documented risk factor of intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). The current study was aimed to clarify the effects and mechanisms of NADH: ubiquinone oxidoreductase subunit A3 (NDUFA3) in human nucleus pulposus cells (HNPCs) exposed to high glucose. NDUFA3 was overexpressed in HNPCs via lenti-virus transduction, which were co-treated with high glucose and rotenone (a mitochondrial complex I inhibitor) for 48 h. Cell activities were assessed for cell viability, cell apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) ratio, oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and mitochondrial complexes I activities. High glucose decreased cell viability, increased apoptotic cells, increased ROS production, decreased MMP levels and OCR values in HNPCs in a dose-dependent manner. Rotenone co-treatment augmented the high glucose-induced injuries on cell viability, apoptosis, ROS production and mitochondrial function. NDUFA3 overexpression counteracted the high glucose-induced injuries in HNPCs. HDAC/H3K27ac mechanism was involved in regulating NDUFA3 transcription. NDUFA3 knockdown decreased cell viability and increased apoptotic cells, which were reversed by ROS scavenger N-acetylcysteine. HDAC/H3K27ac-mediated transcription of NDUFA3 protects HNPCs against high glucose-induced injuries through suppressing cell apoptosis, eliminating ROS, improving mitochondrial function and oxidative phosphorylation. This study sheds light on candidate therapeutic targets and deepens the understanding of molecular mechanisms behind DM-induced IVDD.

Intestinal deguelin drives resistance to acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in female mice.

Acetaminophen (APAP) overdose is a leading cause of drug-induced liver injury (DILI), with gender-specific differences in susceptibility. However, the mechanism underlying this phenomenon remains unclear. Our study reveals that the gender-specific differences in susceptibility to APAP-induced hepatotoxicity are due to differences in the gut microbiota. Through microbial multi-omics and cultivation, we observed increased gut microbiota-derived deguelin content in both women and female mice. Administration of deguelin was capable of alleviating hepatotoxicity in APAP-treated male mice, and this protective effect was associated with the inhibition of hepatocyte oxidative stress. Mechanistically, deguelin reduced the expression of thyrotropin receptor (TSHR) in hepatocytes with APAP treatment through direct interaction. Pharmacologic suppression of TSHR expression using ML224 significantly increased hepatic glutathione (GSH) in APAP-treated male mice. These findings suggest that gut microbiota-derived deguelin plays a crucial role in reducing APAP-induced hepatotoxicity in female mice, offering new insights into therapeutic strategies for DILI.

Naringenin Nanocrystals Mitigate Rotenone Neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y Cell Line by Modulating Mitophagy and Oxidative Stress.

Naringenin, a potent antioxidant with anti-apoptotic effects, holds potential in counteracting rotenone-induced neurotoxicity, a model for Parkinson's disease, by reducing oxidative stress and supporting mitochondrial function. Rotenone disrupts ATP production in SH-SY5Y cells through mitochondrial complex-I inhibition, leading to increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cellular damage. However, the therapeutic use of naringenin is limited by its poor solubility, low bioavailability, and stability concerns. Nano crystallization of naringenin (NCs), significantly improved its solubility, dissolution rates, and stability for targeted drug delivery. The developed NAR-NC and HSA-NAR-NC formulations exhibit particle sizes of 95.23 nm and 147.89 nm, with zeta potentials of -20.6 mV and -28.5 mV, respectively. These nanocrystals also maintain high drug content and show stability over time, confirming their pharmaceutical viability. In studies using the SH-SY5Y cell line, these modified nanocrystals effectively preserved mitochondrial membrane potential, sustained ATP production, and regulated ROS levels, counteracting the neurotoxic effects of rotenone. Naringenin nanocrystals offer a promising solution for improving the stability and bioavailability of naringenin, with potential therapeutic applications in neurodegenerative diseases.

Clustered ARPE-19 cells distinct in mitochondrial membrane potential may play a pivotal role in cell differentiation.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is associated with the dysfunction and degeneration of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. Here, we examined how the formation and expansions of cell clusters are regulated by the differentiation of the RPE　cells. In this study, ARPE-19 cells were cultivated in standard or differentiation media, i.e., without or with nicotinamide, to evaluate the spreading of cell clusters specified with differentiated cell phenotypes. Mitochondria membrane potential (MMP) and the distribution of the RPE cell clusters was also monitored with or without rotenone, a mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) complex I inhibitor. Cultured ARPE-19 cells generated scattered cell clusters composed mostly of smaller size cells expressing the differentiation markers mouse anti-cellular retinaldehyde-binding protein (CRALBP) and Bestrophin only in differentiation medium. After the increase of the number of clusters, the clusters appeared to paracellularly merge, resulting in expansion of the area occupied by the clusters. Of note, the cells within the clusters selectively had high MMP and were in accordance with the expression of RPE differentiation markers. Rotenone repressed the formation of the clusters and decreased intracellular MMP. The above results suggest that clustering of RPE cells with functional mitochondria plays a pivotal role in RPE cell differentiation process and the ETC complex I inhibition greatly influences the composition of RPE cells that are degenerated or differentiation disposed.

Establishment of human pluripotent stem cell-derived cortical neurosphere model to study pathomechanisms and chemical toxicity in Kleefstra syndrome.

In the present study, we aimed to establish and characterize a mature cortical spheroid model system for Kleefstra syndrome (KS) using patient-derived iPSC. We identified key differences in the growth behavior of KS spheroids determined by reduced proliferation marked by low Ki67 and high E-cadherin expression. Conversely, in the spheroid-based neurite outgrowth assay KS outperformed the control neurite outgrowth due to higher BDNF expression. KS spheroids were highly enriched in VGLUT1/2-expressing glutamatergic and ChAT-expressing cholinergic neurons, while TH-positive catecholamine neurons were significantly underrepresented. Furthermore, high NMDAR1 expression was also detected in the KS spheroid, similarly to other patients-derived neuronal cultures, denoting high NMDAR1 expression as a general, KS-specific marker. Control and KS neuronal progenitors and neurospheres were exposed to different toxicants (paraquat, rotenone, bardoxolone, and doxorubicin), and dose-response curves were assessed after acute exposure. Differentiation stage and compound-specific differences were detected with KS neurospheres being the most sensitive to paraquat. Altogether this study describes a robust 3D model system expressing the disease-specific markers and recapitulating the characteristic pathophysiological traits. This platform is suitable for testing developing brain-adverse environmental effects interactions, drug development, and screening towards individual therapeutic strategies.

Rotenone-Induced Optic Nerve Damage and Retinal Ganglion Cell Loss in Rats.

Rotenone is a mitochondrial complex I inhibitor that causes retinal degeneration. A study of a rat model of rotenone-induced retinal degeneration suggested that this model is caused by indirect postsynaptic N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) stimulation triggered by oxidative stress-mediated presynaptic intracellular calcium signaling. To elucidate the mechanisms by which rotenone causes axonal degeneration, we investigated morphological changes in optic nerves and the change in retinal ganglion cell (RGC) number in rats. Optic nerves and retinas were collected 3 and 7 days after the intravitreal injection of rotenone. The cross-sections of the optic nerves were subjected to a morphological analysis with axon quantification. The axons and somas of RGCs were analyzed immunohistochemically in retinal flatmounts. In the optic nerve, rotenone induced axonal swelling and degeneration with the incidence of reactive gliosis. Rotenone also significantly reduced axon numbers in the optic nerve. Furthermore, rotenone caused axonal thinning, fragmentation, and beading in RGCs on flatmounts and decreased the number of RGC soma. In conclusion, the intravitreal injection of rotenone in rats induced morphological abnormities with a reduced number of optic nerve axons and RGC axons when the RGC somas were degenerated. These findings help elucidate the pathogenesis of optic neuropathy induced by mitochondrial dysfunction.

Unveiling Lobophytum sp. the neuroprotective potential of Parkinson's disease through multifaceted mechanisms, supported by metabolomic analysis and network pharmacology.

A main feature of neurodegenerative diseases is the loss of neurons. One of the most prevalent neurodegenerative illnesses is Parkinson disease (PD). Although several medications are already approved to treat neurodegenerative disorders, most of them only address associated symptoms. The main aim of the current study was to examine the neuroprotective efficacy and underlying mechanism of Lobophytum sp. crude extract in a rotenone-induced rat model of neurodegeneration mimicking PD in humans. The influence of the treatment on antioxidant, inflammatory, and apoptotic markers was assessed in addition to the investigation of TH (tyrosine hydroxylase) immunochemistry, histopathological changes, and α-synuclein. Metabolomic profiling of Lobophytum sp. crude extract was done by using High-Resolution Liquid Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (HR-LC-ESI-MS), which revealed the presence of 20 compounds (1-20) belonging to several classes of secondary metabolites including diterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids, steroids, and steroid glycosides. From our experimental results, we report that Lobophytum sp. extract conferred neuroprotection against rotenone-induced PD by inhibiting ROS formation, apoptosis, and inflammatory mediators including IL-6, IL-1ß, and TNF-α, NF-кB, and subsequent neurodegeneration as evidenced by decreased α-synuclein deposition and enhanced tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity. Moreover, a computational network pharmacology study was performed for the dereplicated compounds from Lobophytum sp. using PubChem, SwissTarget Prediction, STRING, DisGeNET, and ShinyGO databases. Among the studied genes, CYP19A1 was the top gene related to Parkinson's disease. Dendrinolide compounds annotated a high number of parkinsonism genes. The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway was the top signaling pathway related to the studied genes. Therefore, we speculate that Lobophytum sp. extract, owing to its pleiotropic mechanisms, could be further developed as a possible therapeutic drug for treating Parkinson's disease.

Lactoferrin Protects Against Rotenone-Induced Toxicity in Dopaminergic SH-SY5Y Cells through the Modulation of Apoptotic-Associated Pathways.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common motor neurodegenerative disease that still lacks effective therapeutic options. Previous studies have reported that lactoferrin exhibited neuroprotective effects in cellular and animal models of PD, typically induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) or 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) synthetic toxin. However, the neuroprotective capacity of lactoferrin in the rotenone-induced cellular model of PD remains relatively less established. Unlike MPTP/MPP+, rotenone is a naturally occurring environmental toxin known to induce chronic toxicity and increase the risk of PD in humans. In this study, we constructed a cellular model of PD by differentiating SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells with retinoic acid into mature dopaminergic neurons with increased ß-tubulin III and tyrosine hydroxylase expression, followed by 24 h of rotenone exposure. Using this cellular model of PD, we showed that lactoferrin (1-10 µg/ml) pre-treatment for 48 h decreased loss of cell viability, mitochondrial membrane potential impairment, reactive oxygen species generation and pro-apoptotic activities (pan-caspase activation and nuclear condensation) in cells exposed to rotenone (1 and 5 µM) using biochemical assays, Hoechst 33342 staining and immunocytochemical techniques. We further demonstrated that 48 h of lactoferrin (10 µg/ml) pre-treatment decreased Bax:Bcl2 ratio and p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinase expression but increased pAkt expression in 5 µM rotenone-exposed cells. Our study demonstrates that lactoferrin neuroprotective capacity is present in the rotenone-induced cellular model of PD, further supporting lactoferrin as a potential PD therapeutic that warrants further studies.

Rearing conditions (isolated versus group rearing) affect rotenone-induced changes in the behavior of zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos in the coiling assay.

Under regulations such as REACH, testing of novel and established compounds for their (neuro)toxic potential is a legal requirement in many countries. These are largely based on animal-, cost-, and time-intensive in vivo models, not in line with the 3 Rs' principle of animal experimentation. Thus, the development of alternative test methods has also received increasing attention in neurotoxicology. Such methods focus either on physiological alterations in brain development and neuronal pathways or on behavioral changes. An example of a behavioral developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) assay is the zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryo coiling assay, which quantifies effects of compounds on the development of spontaneous movement of zebrafish embryos. While the importance of embryo-to-embryo contact prior to hatching in response to environmental contaminants or natural threats has been documented for many other clutch-laying fish species, little is known about the relevance of intra-clutch contacts for zebrafish. Here, the model neurotoxin rotenone was used to assess the effect of grouped versus separate rearing of the embryos on the expression of the coiling behavior. Some group-reared embryos reacted with hyperactivity to the exposure, to an extent that could not be recorded effectively with the utilized software. Separately reared embryos showed reduced activity, compared with group-reared individuals when assessing. However, even the control group embryos of the separately reared cohort showed reduced activity, compared with group-reared controls. Rotenone could thus be confirmed to induce neurotoxic effects in zebrafish embryos, yet modifying one parameter in an otherwise well-established neurotoxicity assay such as the coiling assay may lead to changes in behavior influenced by the proximity between individual embryos. This indicates a complex dependence of the outcome of behavior assays on a multitude of environmental parameters.

Rotenone-induced cell apoptosis via endoplasmic reticulum stress and PERK-eIF2α-CHOP signalling pathways in TM3 cells.

Rotenone (ROT), a widely used natural pesticide, has an uncertain effect on reproductive toxicity. In this study, we used 20 mice distributed randomly into four groups, with each group receiving ROT doses of 0, 2, 4, and 8 mg/kg/day for 28 days. The results demonstrated that ROT induced significant testicular damage, including impaired spermatogenesis, inhibition of testosterone synthesis, and apoptosis of Leydig cells. Additionally, ROT disrupted the normal ultrastructure of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in testicular tissue, leading to ER stress in Leydig cells. To further explore whether ROT-induced apoptosis in Leydig cells is related to ER stress, the mouse Leydig cell line (TM3 cells) was treated with ROT at 0, 250, 500, and 1000 nM. ROT inhibited TM3 cell viability, induced cytotoxicity, and reduced testosterone content in the culture supernatants. Furthermore, ROT treatment triggered apoptosis in TM3 cells by activating ER stress and the PERK-eIF2α-CHOP signalling pathway. Pre-treatment of TM3 cells exposed to ROT with the ER stress inhibitor 4-phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA) alleviated these effects, decreasing apoptosis and preserving testosterone levels. Further intervention with the PERK inhibitor GSK2606414 reduced ROT-induced apoptosis and testosterone reduction by inhibiting PERK activity. In summary, ROT-induced male reproductive toxicity is specifically driven by apoptosis, with the PERK-eIF2α-CHOP signalling pathway activated by ER stress playing a crucial role in the apoptosis of Leydig cells triggered by ROT.

Chemical Characterization and Beneficial Effects of Walnut Oil on a Drosophila melanogaster Model of Parkinson's Disease.

A nutritional approach could be a promising strategy to prevent or decrease the progression of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease (PD). The neuroprotective role of walnut oil (WO) was investigated in Drosophila melanogaster treated with rotenone (Rot), as a PD model, WO, or their combination, and compared to controls. WO reduced mortality and improved locomotor activity impairment after 3 and 7 days, induced by Rot. LC-MS analyses of fatty acid levels in Drosophila heads showed a significant increase in linolenic (ALA) and linoleic acid (LA) both in flies fed with the WO-enriched diet and in those treated with the association of WO with Rot. Flies supplemented with the WO diet showed an increase in brain dopamine (DA) level, while Rot treatment significantly depleted dopamine content; conversely, the association of Rot with WO did not modify DA content compared to controls. The greater intake of ALA and LA in the enriched diet enhanced their levels in Drosophila brain, suggesting a neuroprotective role of polyunsaturated fatty acids against Rot-induced neurotoxicity. The involvement of the dopaminergic system in the improvement of behavioral and biochemical parameters in Drosophila fed with WO is also suggested.

Antiparkinson potential of khellin on rotenone-induced Parkinson's disease in a zebrafish model: targeting MAO, inflammatory, and oxidative stress markers with molecular docking, MD simulations, and histopathology evidence.

In this study, the antiparkinson effect of khellin (KL) on rotenone-induced Parkinson's disease (PD) was examined in zebrafish. Initially, In silico evaluations, such as drug likeness and ADME/T analysis, confirmed the pharmacological viability of KL. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) analysis revealed stable binding interactions between KL and monamine oxidase B (MAO-B). Molecular docking results for KL and pioglitazone (CCl) revealed binding energies of -6.5 and -10.4 kcal/mol, respectively. Later, molecular dynamics (MD) studies were performed to assess the stability of these complexes, which yielded binding energies of -36.04 ± 55.21 and -56.2 ± 80.63 kJ/mol for KL and CCl, respectively. These results suggest that KL exhibits considerable binding affinity for MAO-B. In In vitro studies, according to the DPPH free radical scavenging assay, KL exhibited significant antioxidant effects, indicating that it can promote redox balance with an IC50 value of 22.68 ± 0.5 µg/ml. In vivo studies and evaluation of locomotor activity, social interaction, histopathology and biochemical parameters were conducted in KL-treated zebrafish to measure SOD and GSH antioxidant activity, the oxidative stress marker malondialdehyde (MDA), the inflammatory marker myeloperoxidase (MPO) and MAO-B. However, while the locomotor and social interaction abilities of the rotenone-treated zebrafish were significantly reduced, KL treatment significantly improved locomotor activity (p < 0.001) and social interaction (p < 0.001). KL alleviated PD symptoms, as indicated by significant increases in SOD (p < 0.01), GSH (p < 0.001), MDA (p < 0.001), MAO-B (p < 0.001) and MPO (p < 0.001) in rotenone-induced PD fish (p<0.001) significantly reduced activities. Histopathological studies revealed that rotenone-induced brain hyperintensity and abnormal cellularity of the periventricular gray matter in the optic tectum were significantly reduced by KL treatment. This study provides a strong basis for developing KL as a new candidate for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, with the prospect of improved safety profiles and efficacy.

Ethnopharmacological validation of Karkataka Taila-An edible crab Rasayana in rotenone-induced in vitro and in vivo models of Parkinson's disease.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: 'Karkataka Taila (KT), an ancient Ayurvedic Rasayana comprising the edible freshwater crab Scylla serrata Forskal flesh, is still used by local traditional practitioners in Kerala state to treat tremors and palsy. In the scientific community, it becomes less exposed due to the lack of adequate scientific validations and brief reports. There has been no published research on the effectiveness of KT in treating Parkinson's disease (PD). PURPOSE: The purpose of the current research work was to investigate the anti-Parkison's potential of KT against rotenone-induced neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cell lines and rat model of PD and investigate underlying molecular mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The components of KT have been identified by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). The neuroprotective activity of KT was assessed using SH-SY5Y cell lines and rats against rotenone-induced PD. The parameters used for asses the neuroprotection are antioxidant markers (ROS and SOD), anti-inflammatory markers (IL-6, IL-1ß, TNF-α, and nitrite), and dopamine levels. Behavioral evaluation and rat brain histopathology were carried out to further support the neuroprotection. RESULT: Analysis using GC-MS revealed 36 constituents in KT. In vitro, the KT displayed considerable neuroprotective effects in terms of decreasing oxidative stress (ROS and SOD), neuroinflammation (IL-6, IL-1ß, TNF-α, and nitrite), and elevating dopamine concentration. In vivo data showing improvements in histopathological and biochemical parameters confirmed the in vitro study findings, and in terms of behavioral assays, KT displayed significant activity. CONCLUSION: GC-MS profiling was used to identify the bioactive compounds of KT with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties. As a result, they may be responsible for the therapeutic effects of KT on PD.

The neuroprotective effects of alpha lipoic acid in rotenone-induced Parkinson's disease in mice via activating PI3K/AKT pathway and antagonizing related inflammatory cascades.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is an idiopathic disease caused by the loss or degeneration of the dopaminergic (dopamine-producing) neurons in the brain and characterized by various inflammatory and apoptotic responses in the neuronal cells. Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) axis is responsible for neuronal survival by providing a number of anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic milieu that prevent the progression of PD. Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is a natural cofactor that has antioxidant capacity and contributes to various metabolic processes. ALA can penetrate the blood-brain barrier and contribute to numerous neuroprotective effects. It can activate PI3K/AKT pathway with consequent reduction of different inflammatory and oxidative biomarkers. Our work aims to unfold the neuroprotective effects of ALA via targeting PI3k/AKT pathway. Forty male mice were divided into four groups: control, ALA (100 mg/kg/day; i.p.), rotenone (ROT) (1.5 mg/kg/2 days, i.p.) and rotenone + ALA for 21 days. ALA showed obvious neuroprotective effects via significant activation of PI3K/AKT pathway with subsequent decreasing level of Caspase-3. ALA resulted in prominent anti-inflammatory actions by decreasing interlukin-1ß (IL-1ß), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and nuclear factor kabba (NFk)-B. ALA remarkably induced antioxidant activities via increasing reduced glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels as well as decreasing malondialdehyde (MDA) level. The substantial behavioral improvement reflected in these results was noticed in the ALA-treated mice as a reflection of the neuroprotective activities of ALA. In conclusion, ALA showed promising neuroprotective effects in rotenone-induced PD via activating the PI3K/AKT pathway and consequent inhibition of apoptotic and inflammatory biomarkers.

Vimentin regulates mitochondrial ROS production and inflammatory responses of neutrophils.

The intermediate filament vimentin is present in immune cells and is implicated in proinflammatory immune responses. Whether and how it supports antimicrobial activities of neutrophils are not well established. Here, we developed an immortalized neutrophil model to examine the requirement of vimentin. We demonstrate that vimentin restricts the production of proinflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species (ROS), but enhances phagocytosis and swarming. We observe that vimentin is dispensable for neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation, degranulation, and inflammasome activation. Moreover, gene expression analysis demonstrated that the presence of vimentin was associated with changes in expression of multiple genes required for mitochondrial function and ROS overproduction. Treatment of wild-type cells with rotenone, an inhibitor for complex I of the electron transport chain, increases the ROS levels. Likewise, treatment with mitoTEMPO, a SOD mimetic, rescues the ROS production in cells lacking vimentin. Together, these data show vimentin regulates neutrophil antimicrobial functions and alters ROS levels through regulation of mitochondrial activity.

Evaluation of Neuroprotective Effect of Gut Microbe in Parkinson's Disease: An In Silico and In Vivo Approach.

Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder marked by the death of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra region of the brain. Aggregation of alpha-synuclein (α-synuclein) is a contributing factor to Parkinson's disease pathogenesis. The objective of this study is to investigate the neuroprotective effects of gut microbes on α-synuclein aggregation using both in silico and in vivo approaches. We focussed on the interaction between α-synuclein and metabolites released by gut bacteria that protect from PD. We employed three probiotic microbe strains against α-synuclein protein: Lactobacillus casei, Escherichia coli, and Bacillus subtilis, with their chosen PDB IDs being Dihydrofolate reductase (3DFR), methionine synthetase (6BM5), and tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase (3PRH), respectively. Using HEX Dock 6.0 software, we examined the interactions between these proteins. Among the various metabolites, methionine synthetase produced by E. coli showed potential interactions with α-synuclein. To further evaluate the neuroprotective benefits of E. coli, an in vivo investigation was performed using a rotenone-induced Parkinsonian mouse model. The motor function of the animals was assessed through behavioural tests, and oxidative stress and neurotransmitter levels were also examined. The results demonstrated that, compared to the rotenone-induced PD mouse model, the rate of neurodegeneration was considerably reduced in mice treated with E. coli. Additionally, histopathological studies provided evidence of the neuroprotective effects of E. coli. In conclusion, this study lays the groundwork for future research, suggesting that gut bacteria may serve as potential therapeutic agents in the development of medications to treat Parkinson's disease. fig. 1.

From Young to Old: Mimicking Neuronal Aging in Directly Converted Neurons from Young Donors.

A substantial challenge in human brain aging is to find a suitable model to mimic neuronal aging in vitro as accurately as possible. Using directly converted neurons (iNs) from human fibroblasts is considered a promising tool in human aging since it retains the aging-associated mitochondrial donor signature. Still, using iNs from aged donors can pose certain restrictions due to their lower reprogramming and conversion efficacy than those from younger individuals. To overcome these limitations, our study aimed to establish an in vitro neuronal aging model mirroring features of in vivo aging by acute exposure on young iNs to either human stress hormone cortisol or the mitochondrial stressor rotenone, considering stress as a trigger of in vivo aging. The impact of rotenone was evident in mitochondrial bioenergetic properties by showing aging-associated deficits in mitochondrial respiration, cellular ATP, and MMP and a rise in glycolysis, mitochondrial superoxide, and mitochondrial ROS; meanwhile, cortisol only partially induced an aging-associated mitochondrial dysfunction. To replicate the in vivo aging-associated mitochondrial dysfunctions, using rotenone, a mitochondrial complex I inhibitor, proved to be superior to the cortisol model. This work is the first to use stress on young iNs to recreate aging-related mitochondrial impairments.

Deguelin inhibits the glioblastoma progression through suppressing CCL2/NFκB signaling pathway.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common primary intracranial tumor with characteristics of high aggressiveness and poor prognosis. Deguelin, a component from the bark of Leguminosae Mundulea sericea (African plant), displays antiproliferative effects in some tumors, however, the inhibitory effect and mechanism of deguelin on GBM were still poorly understood. At first, we found that deguelin reduced the viability of GBM cells by causing cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase and inducing their apoptosis. Secondly, deguelin inhibited the migration of GBM cells. Next, RNA-seq analysis identified that CCL2 (encoding chemokine CCL2) was downregulated significantly in deguelin-treated GBM cells. As reported, CCL2 promoted the cell growth, and CCL2 was associated with regulating NFκB signaling pathway, as well as involved in modulating tumor microenvironment (TME). Furthermore, we found that deguelin inactivated CCL2/NFκB signaling pathway, and exougous CCL2 could rescue the anti-inhibitory effect of deguelin on GBM cells via upregulating NFκB. Finally, we established a syngeneic intracranial orthotopic GBM model and found that deguelin regressed the tumor growth, contributed to an anti-tumorigenic TME and inhibited angiogenesis of GBM by suppressing CCL2/NFκB in vivo. Taken together, these results suggest the anti-GBM effect of deguelin via inhibiting CCL2/NFκB pathway, which may provide a new strategy for the treatment of GBM.

Inhibition of angiogenesis by the secretome from iPSC-derived retinal ganglion cells with Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy-like phenotypes.

The blood supply in the retina ensures photoreceptor function and maintains regular vision. Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON), caused by the mitochondrial DNA mutations that deteriorate complex I activity, is characterized by progressive vision loss. Although some reports indicated retinal vasculature abnormalities as one of the comorbidities in LHON, the paracrine influence of LHON-affected retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) on vascular endothelial cell physiology remains unclear. To address this, we established an in vitro model of mitochondrial complex I deficiency using induced pluripotent stem cell-derived RGCs (iPSC-RGCs) treated with a mitochondrial complex I inhibitor rotenone (Rot) to recapitulate LHON pathologies. The secretomes from Rot-treated iPSC-RGCs (Rot-iPSC-RGCs) were collected, and their treatment effect on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was studied. Rot induced LHON-like characteristics in iPSC-RGCs, including decreased mitochondrial complex I activity and membrane potential, and increased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptosis, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction. When HUVECs were exposed to conditioned media (CM) from Rot-iPSC-RGCs, the angiogenesis of HUVECs was suppressed compared to those treated with CM from control iPSC-RGCs (Ctrl-iPSC-RGCs). Angiogenesis-related proteins were altered in the secretomes from Rot-iPSC-RGC-derived CM, particularly angiopoietin, MMP-9, uPA, collagen XVIII, and VEGF were reduced. Notably, GeneMANIA analysis indicated that VEGFA emerged as the pivotal angiogenesis-related protein among the identified proteins secreted by health iPSC-RGCs but reduced in the secretomes from Rot-iPSC-RGCs. Quantitative real-time PCR and western blots confirmed the reduction of VEGFA at both transcription and translation levels, respectively. Our study reveals that Rot-iPSC-RGCs establish a microenvironment to diminish the angiogenic potential of vascular cells nearby, shedding light on the paracrine regulation of LHON-affected RGCs on retinal vasculature.