A prolonged pharmacological blockade of type-5 metabotropic glutamate receptors protects cultured spinal cord motor neurons against excitotoxic death.

The causes of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are mostly undefined; however, excitotoxic injury and astrogliosis may contribute to motor neuron (MN) degeneration. Group I metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors are over-expressed in reactive astrocytes in ALS, but the functional significance of this over-expression is presently unknown. We examined the role of group I mGlu receptors on excitotoxic death of spinal cord MNs grown in cultures enriched of astrocytes bearing a reactive phenotype. A prolonged exposure to the selective non-competitive mGlu5 receptor antagonist MPEP reduced AMPA-mediated toxicity and cobalt uptake in MNs. Expression levels of the GluR1 (but not GluR2) AMPA receptor subunit and levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were reduced in mixed spinal cord cultures pretreated with MPEP. In addition, neuroprotection by MPEP was less than additive with that produced by a neutralizing anti-BDNF antibody and a treatment with exogenous BDNF masked the protective effect of MPEP, suggesting that mGlu5 receptors and BDNF converge in facilitating excitotoxic MN death. The protective effect of MPEP was absent in cultures with a reduced number of astrocytes. We suggest that blocking astrocytic mGlu5 receptors is a potential therapeutic strategy in ALS.

ß-amyloid and Oxidative Stress: Perspectives in Drug Development.

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a slow-developing neurodegenerative disorder in which the main pathogenic role has been assigned to ß-amyloid protein (Aß) that accumulates in extracellular plaques. The mechanism of action of Aß has been deeply analyzed and several membrane structures have been identified as potential mediators of its effect. The ability of Aß to modify neuronal activity, receptor expression, signaling pathways, mitochondrial function, and involvement of glial cells have been analyzed. In addition, extensive literature deals with the involvement of oxidative stress in Aß effects. Herein we focus more specifically on the reciprocal regulation of Aß, that causes oxidative stress, that favors Aß aggregation and toxicity and negatively affects the peptide clearance. Analysis of this strict interaction may offer novel opportunities for therapeutic intervention. Both common and new molecules endowed with antioxidant properties deserve attention in this regard.

Carnosine Prevents Aß-Induced Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Microglial Cells: A Key Role of TGF-ß1.

Carnosine (ß-alanyl-L-histidine), a dipeptide, is an endogenous antioxidant widely distributed in excitable tissues like muscles and the brain. Carnosine is involved in cellular defense mechanisms against oxidative stress, including the inhibition of amyloid-beta (Aß) aggregation and the scavenging of reactive species. Microglia play a central role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease, promoting neuroinflammation through the secretion of inflammatory mediators and free radicals. However, the effects of carnosine on microglial cells and neuroinflammation are not well understood. In the present work, carnosine was tested for its ability to protect BV-2 microglial cells against oligomeric Aß1-42-induced oxidative stress and inflammation. Carnosine prevented cell death in BV-2 cells challenged with Aß oligomers through multiple mechanisms. Specifically, carnosine lowered the oxidative stress by decreasing NO and O2-• intracellular levels as well as the expression of iNOS and Nox enzymes. Carnosine also decreased the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1ß, simultaneously rescuing IL-10 levels and increasing the expression and the release of TGF-ß1. Carnosine also prevented Aß-induced neurodegeneration in mixed neuronal cultures challenged with Aß oligomers, and these neuroprotective effects were completely abolished by SB431542, a selective inhibitor of the type-1 TGF-ß receptor. Our data suggest a multimodal mechanism of action of carnosine underlying its protective effects on microglial cells against Aß toxicity with a key role of TGF-ß1 in mediating these protective effects.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Insights into the Therapeutic Approach with Inositols.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by hormonal abnormalities that cause menstrual irregularity and reduce ovulation rate and fertility, associated to insulin resistance. Myo-inositol (cis-1,2,3,5-trans-4,6-cyclohexanehexol, MI) and D-chiro-inositol (cis-1,2,4-trans-3,5,6-cyclohexanehexol, DCI) represent promising treatments for PCOS, having shown some therapeutic benefits without substantial side effects. Because the use of inositols for treating PCOS is widespread, a deep understanding of this treatment option is needed, both in terms of potential mechanisms and efficacy. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the biological effects of MI and DCI and the results obtained from relevant intervention studies with inositols in PCOS. Based on the published results, both MI and DCI represent potential valid therapeutic approaches for the treatment of insulin resistance and its associated metabolic and reproductive disorders, such as those occurring in women affected by PCOS. Furthermore, the combination MI/DCI seems also effective and might be even superior to either inositol species alone. However, based on available data, a particular MI:DCI ratio to be administered to PCOS patients cannot be established. Further studies are then necessary to understand the real contents of MI or DCI uptaken by the ovary following oral administration in order to identify optimal doses and/or combination ratios.

Chronic Treatment with Fluoxetine Induces Sex-Dependent Analgesic Effects and Modulates HDAC2 and mGlu2 Expression in Female Mice.

Gender and sex differences in pain recognition and drug responses have been reported in clinical trials and experimental models of pain. Among antidepressants, contradictory results have been observed in patients treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). This study evaluated sex differences in response to the SSRI fluoxetine after chronic administration in the mouse formalin test. Adult male and female CD1 mice were intraperitoneally injected with fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) for 21 days and subjected to pain assessment. Fluoxetine treatment reduced the second phase of the formalin test only in female mice without producing behavioral changes in males. We also observed that fluoxetine was able to specifically increase the expression of metabotropic glutamate receptor type-2 (mGlu2) in females. Also a reduced expression of the epigenetic modifying enzyme, histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2), in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and dorsal horn (DH) together with an increase histone 3 acetylation (H3) level was observed in females but not in males. With this study we provide evidence that fluoxetine induces sex specific changes in HDAC2 and mGlu2 expression in the DH of the spinal cord and in DRGs and suggests a molecular explanation for the analgesic effects in female mice.