scholarly journals Squalamine and Its Derivatives Modulate the Aggregation of Amyloid-β and α-Synuclein and Suppress the Toxicity of Their Oligomers

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan Limbocker ◽  
Roxine Staats ◽  
Sean Chia ◽  
Francesco S. Ruggeri ◽  
Benedetta Mannini ◽  
...  

The aberrant aggregation of proteins is a key molecular event in the development and progression of a wide range of neurodegenerative disorders. We have shown previously that squalamine and trodusquemine, two natural products in the aminosterol class, can modulate the aggregation of the amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) and of α-synuclein (αS), which are associated with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. In this work, we expand our previous analyses to two squalamine derivatives, des-squalamine and α-squalamine, obtaining further insights into the mechanism by which aminosterols modulate Aβ and αS aggregation. We then characterize the ability of these small molecules to alter the physicochemical properties of stabilized oligomeric species in vitro and to suppress the toxicity of these aggregates to varying degrees toward human neuroblastoma cells. We found that, despite the fact that these aminosterols exert opposing effects on Aβ and αS aggregation under the conditions that we tested, the modifications that they induced to the toxicity of oligomers were similar. Our results indicate that the suppression of toxicity is mediated by the displacement of toxic oligomeric species from cellular membranes by the aminosterols. This study, thus, provides evidence that aminosterols could be rationally optimized in drug discovery programs to target oligomer toxicity in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chol Seung Lim ◽  
Jung-Soo Han

Activity of neprilysin (NEP), the major protease which cleaves amyloid-β peptide (Aβ), is reportedly reduced in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Accumulation of Aβ generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE), and then reduces activities of Aβ-degrading enzymes including NEP. Xanthorrhizol (Xan), a natural sesquiterpenoid, has been reported to possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The present study examined the effects of Xan on HNE- or oligomeric Aβ42-induced oxidative modification of NEP protein. Xan was added to the HNE- or oligomeric Aβ42-treated SK-N-SH human neuroblastoma cells and then levels, oxidative modification and enzymatic activities of NEP protein were measured. Increased HNE levels on NEP proteins and reduced enzymatic activities of NEP were observed in the HNE- or oligomeric Aβ42-treated cells. Xan reduced HNE levels on NEP proteins and preserved enzymatic activities of NEP in HNE- or oligomeric Aβ42-treated cells. Xan reduced Aβ42 accumulation and protected neurones against oligomeric Aβ42-induced neurotoxicity through preservation of NEP activities. These findings indicate that Xan possesses therapeutic potential for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, including AD, and suggest a potential mechanism for the neuroprotective effects of antioxidants for the prevention of AD.


2008 ◽  
Vol 52 (6) ◽  
pp. 948-955 ◽  
Author(s):  
Véronique Schaeffer ◽  
Laurence Meyer ◽  
Christine Patte-Mensah ◽  
Anne Eckert ◽  
Ayikoe G. Mensah-Nyagan

Gene Therapy ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 156-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
J-L Coll ◽  
E Wagner ◽  
V Combaret ◽  
K Metchler ◽  
H Amstutz ◽  
...  

PLoS ONE ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 4 (8) ◽  
pp. e6779 ◽  
Author(s):  
Markus Uhrig ◽  
Carina Ittrich ◽  
Verena Wiedmann ◽  
Yuri Knyazev ◽  
Annette Weninger ◽  
...  

1989 ◽  
Vol 108 (6) ◽  
pp. 2291-2300 ◽  
Author(s):  
E Sher ◽  
S Denis-Donini ◽  
A Zanini ◽  
C Bisiani ◽  
F Clementi

IMR-32 human neuroblastoma cells are unable to release [3H]dopamine in response to secretagogues. However, they express a normal complement of membrane receptors and ion channels which are efficiently coupled to second messenger production. In the present study we took advantage of the ability of this cell line to differentiate in vitro in the presence of either dibutyrryl-cAMP or 5-bromodeoxyuridine, to analyze any developmentally regulated changes in its secretory properties. Uptake, storage, and release of [3H]dopamine were studied biochemically and by autoradiography. The calcium ionophore ionomycin, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and the presynaptic acting neurotoxin alpha-latrotoxin were used in both control and differentiated cells as secretagogue agents. The presence of secretory organelles was investigated by electron microscopy; the expression of secretory organelle markers, such as chromogranin/secretogranin proteins (secretory proteins) and synaptophysin (membrane protein), was detected by Western blotting and immunofluorescence. The results obtained indicate that IMR-32 cells acquire regulated secretory properties after in vitro drug-induced differentiation: (a) they assemble "de novo" secretory organelles, as revealed by electron microscopy and detection of secretory organelle markers, and (b) they are able to store [3H]dopamine and to release the neurotransmitter in response to secretagogue stimuli. Furthermore, secretagogue sensitivity was found to be different, depending on the differentiating agent. In fact, dibutyrryl-cAMP treated cells release [3H]dopamine in response to alpha-latrotoxin, but not in response to ionomycin, whereas 5-bromodeoxyuridine treated cells release the neurotransmitter in response to both secretagogues. All together these results suggest that IMR-32 cells represent an adequate model for studying the development of the secretory apparatus in cultured human neurons.


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