Differential expression of alpha-synuclein in the hippocampus of SHR and SLA16 isogenic rat strains.

Two inbred strains, Lewis (LEW) and Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats (SHR), are well-known for their contrasting behavior related to anxiety/emotionality. Studies with these two strains led to the discovery of the Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) on chromosome 4 (Anxrr16). To better understand the influences of this genomic region, the congenic rat strain SLA16 (SHR.LEW-Anxrr16) was developed. SLA16 rats present higher hyperactivity/impulsivity, deficits in learning and memory, and lower basal blood pressure than the SHR strain, even though genetic differences between them are only in chromosome 4. Thus, the present study proposed the alpha-synuclein and the dopaminergic system as candidates to explain the differential behavior of SHR and SLA16 strains. To accomplish this, beyond the behavioral analysis, we performed (I) the Snca gene expression and (II) quantification of the alpha-synuclein protein in the hippocampus (HPC), prefrontal cortex (PFC), and striatum (STR) of SHR and SLA16 strains; (III) sequencing of the 3'UTR of the Snca gene; and (IV) evaluation of miRNA binding in the 3'UTR site. A Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) was identified in the 3'UTR of the Snca gene, which exhibited upregulation in the HPC of SHR compared to SLA16 females. Alpha-synuclein protein was higher in the HPC of SHR males compared to SLA16 males. The results of this work suggested that differences in alpha-synuclein HPC content could be influenced by miRNA regulation and associated with behavioral differences between SHR and SLA16 animals.

Methylglyoxal-Mediated Dopamine Depletion, Working Memory Deficit, and Depression-Like Behavior Are Prevented by a Dopamine/Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitor.

Methylglyoxal (MGO) is an endogenous toxin, mainly produced as a by-product of glycolysis that has been associated to aging, Alzheimer's disease, and inflammation. Cell culture studies reported that MGO could impair the glyoxalase, thioredoxin, and glutathione systems. Thus, we investigated the effect of in vivo MGO administration on these systems, but no major changes were observed in the glyoxalase, thioredoxin, and glutathione systems, as evaluated in the prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus of mice. A previous study from our group indicated that MGO administration produced learning/memory deficits and depression-like behavior. Confirming these findings, the tail suspension test indicated that MGO treatment for 7 days leads to depression-like behavior in three different mice strains. MGO treatment for 12 days induced working memory impairment, as evaluated in the Y maze spontaneous alternation test, which was paralleled by low dopamine and serotonin levels in the cerebral cortex. Increased DARPP32 Thr75/Thr34 phosphorylation ratio was observed, suggesting a suppression of phosphatase 1 inhibition, which may be involved in behavioral responses to MGO. Co-treatment with a dopamine/noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (bupropion, 10 mg/kg, p.o.) reversed the depression-like behavior and working memory impairment and restored the serotonin and dopamine levels in the cerebral cortex. Overall, the cerebral cortex monoaminergic system appears to be a preferential target of MGO toxicity, a new potential therapeutic target that remains to be addressed.

Canavalia bonariensis lectin: Molecular bases of glycoconjugates interaction and antiglioma potential.

CaBo is a mannose/glucose-specific lectin purified from seeds of Canavalia bonariensis. In the present work, we report the CaBo crystal structure determined to atomic resolution in the presence of X-man, a specific ligand. Similar to the structural characteristics of other legume lectins, CaBo presented the jellyroll motif, a metal binding site occupied by calcium and manganese ions close to the carbohydrate-recognition domain (CRD). In vitro test of CaBo cytotoxicity against glioma cells demonstrated its ability to decrease the cellular viability and migration by induction of autophagy and cell death. Molecular docking simulations corroborate previous data indicating that the lectin's biological activities occur mostly through interactions with glycoproteins since the lectin interacted favorably with several N-glycans, especially those of the high-mannose type. Together, these results suggest that CaBo interacts with glycosylated cell targets and elicits a remarkable antiglioma activity.

Structural analysis of Dioclea lasiocarpa lectin: A C6 cells apoptosis-inducing protein.

Lectins are multidomain proteins that specifically recognize various carbohydrates. The structural characterization of these molecules is crucial in understanding their function and activity in systems and organisms. Most cancer cells exhibit changes in glycosylation patterns, and lectins may be able to recognize these changes. In this work, Dioclea lasiocarpa seed lectin (DLL) was structurally characterized. The lectin presented a high degree of similarity with other lectins isolated from legumes, presenting a jelly roll motif and a metal-binding site stabilizing the carbohydrate-recognition domain. DLL demonstrated differential interactions with carbohydrates, depending on type of glycosidic linkage present in ligands. As observed by the reduction of cell viability in C6 cells, DLL showed strong antiglioma activity by mechanisms involving activation of caspase 3.

Avaliação preliminar da associação entre anfotericina e hesperina com oxidantes e células huvec / Preliminary assessment of the association between amphotericin and hesperetin with oxididants and huvec cells

A anfotericina B (AmB) é fármaco o “padrão ouro” para o tratamento de infecções fúngicas invasivas desde 1960, Entretanto, a anfotericina B apresenta elevada toxicidade, a qual manifesta-se mais frequentemente nos rins e no fígado, Sabe-se, desde 1985, que a auto-oxidação da AmB origina diferentes formas de espécies reativas oxidativas e estas, por serem tóxicas para a célula, seriam responsáveis, em parte, pela toxicidade, Diferentes estudos indicam que a hesperidina contribui por meio do decréscimo do estresse oxidativo, para a proteção renal e contra a injúria gerada pela isquemia, Tal fato e o envolvimento da AmB na geração de radicais livres tornam interessante a avaliação preliminar do efeito da hesperidina e AmB (isoladamente ou associadas) frente a espécies reativas do oxigênio e radicais livres, bem como o estudo das mesmas em modelos de citoxicidade, Frente ao ABTS•+, a AmB apresentou IC50 igual a 0,0124mg/mL, mas quando associada à hesperidina este valor caiu para 0,0003mg/mL, Frente ao HOCl, a Amb apresentou IC50 igual a 0,0056, mas quando associada à hesperidina este valor caiu para 0,0023mg/mL, No ensaio com DPPH• e radical ânion superóxido as amostras não foram efetivas, No ensaio com células endoteliais em cultivo (HUVEC), as associações reduziram a viabilidade celular, Estes resultados preliminares evidenciam a interação dos compostos com espécies reativas bem como indicam possibilidade de exacerbação do dano pela AmB na presença dos antioxidantes em um modelo in vitro...

Amphotericin B (AmB) is drug “gold standard” for the treatment of invasive fungal infections since 1960. However, amphotericin B has high toxicity, which manifests itself most often in the kidneys and in the liver. It is known, since 1985, that self-oxidation of AmB gives different forms of reactive oxidative species and these, being toxic to the cell, would be responsible, in part, by its toxicity. Different studies indicate that hesperidin contributes, through the reduction of oxidative stress, to protect against renal injury generated by ischemia. This fact and the involvement of AmB in the generation of free radicals make it interesting the preliminary evaluation of the effect of hesperidin and AmB (alone or associated) against reactive oxygen species and free radicals, as well as the study on models of cytotoxicity. Front ABTS•+, AmB presented IC50 equal to 0.0124 mg/mL, but when it was associated to hesperidin this value has decreased to 0.0003 mg/mL. Front HOCl, Amb presented IC50 equal to 0.0056, but when it was associated to hesperidin this value has decreased to 0.0023 mg/mL. In the trials with DPPH• and the superoxide anion radical samples were not effective. In the assay with endotelial cell culture (HUVEC cells), the association has decreased cell viability. These preliminary results demonstrate the interaction of the compounds with reactive species as well as indicate the possibility of damage exacerbation by AmB in the presence of antioxidants in an in vitro model...