scholarly journals The Interplay between Ca2+ Signaling Pathways and Neurodegeneration

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (23) ◽  
pp. 6004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ureshino ◽  
Erustes ◽  
Bassani ◽  
Wachilewski ◽  
Guarache ◽  
...  

Calcium (Ca2+) homeostasis is essential for cell maintenance since this ion participates in many physiological processes. For example, the spatial and temporal organization of Ca2+ signaling in the central nervous system is fundamental for neurotransmission, where local changes in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration are needed to transmit information from neuron to neuron, between neurons and glia, and even regulating local blood flow according to the required activity. However, under pathological conditions, Ca2+ homeostasis is altered, with increased cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentrations leading to the activation of proteases, lipases, and nucleases. This review aimed to highlight the role of Ca2+ signaling in neurodegenerative disease-related apoptosis, where the regulation of intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis depends on coordinated interactions between the endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, and lysosomes, as well as specific transport mechanisms. In neurodegenerative diseases, alterations-increased oxidative stress, energy metabolism alterations, and protein aggregation have been identified. The aggregation of α-synuclein, β-amyloid peptide (Aβ), and huntingtin all adversely affect Ca2+ homeostasis. Due to the mounting evidence for the relevance of Ca2+ signaling in neuroprotection, we would focus on the expression and function of Ca2+ signaling-related proteins, in terms of the effects on autophagy regulation and the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases.

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica D. Panes ◽  
Paulina Saavedra ◽  
Benjamin Pineda ◽  
Kathleen Escobar ◽  
Magdalena E. Cuevas ◽  
...  

After the discovery of prion phenomenon, the physiological role of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) remained elusive. In the past decades, molecular and cellular analysis has shed some light regarding interactions and functions of PrPC in health and disease. PrPC, which is located mainly at the plasma membrane of neuronal cells attached by a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor, can act as a receptor or transducer from external signaling. Although the precise role of PrPC remains elusive, a variety of functions have been proposed for this protein, namely, neuronal excitability and viability. Although many issues must be solved to clearly define the role of PrPC, its connection to the central nervous system (CNS) and to several misfolding-associated diseases makes PrPC an interesting pharmacological target. In a physiological context, several reports have proposed that PrPC modulates synaptic transmission, interacting with various proteins, namely, ion pumps, channels, and metabotropic receptors. PrPC has also been implicated in the pathophysiological cell signaling induced by β-amyloid peptide that leads to synaptic dysfunction in the context of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), as a mediator of Aβ-induced cell toxicity. Additionally, it has been implicated in other proteinopathies as well. In this review, we aimed to analyze the role of PrPC as a transducer of physiological and pathological signaling.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 251-258
Author(s):  
Leila Alidoust ◽  
◽  
Adele Jafari ◽  

Neurodegeneration is a progressive and irreversible loss of neuronal cells in specific regions of the brain. Alzheimer Diseases (AD) Parkinson Disease (PD) are the most common forms of neurodegenerative diseases in older people. Exosomes are extracellular nanovesicles that have a key role in physiological processes such as intercellular communication, cell migration, angiogenesis, and anti-tumor immunity. Mounting evidence indicates the role of exosomes in neurodegenerative disorders as possible carriers of disease particles. They have several different potential applications thanks to their unique structure and functions. The present review summarizes recent studies on exosome potentials as a biomarker and therapeutic tool in neurodegenerative diseases. It also provides an overview of the structure and function of exosomes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaomin Huang ◽  
Yixun Su ◽  
Nan Wang ◽  
Hui Li ◽  
Zhigang Li ◽  
...  

Astrocytes play a crucial role in the maintenance of the normal functions of the Central Nervous System (CNS). During the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, astrocytes undergo morphological and functional remodeling, a process called reactive astrogliosis, in response to the insults to the CNS. One of the key aspects of the reactive astrocytes is the change in the expression and function of connexins. Connexins are channel proteins that highly expressed in astrocytes, forming gap junction channels and hemichannels, allowing diffusional trafficking of small molecules. Alterations of astrocytic connexin expression and function found in neurodegenerative diseases have been shown to affect the disease progression by changing neuronal function and survival. In this review, we will summarize the role of astroglial connexins in neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Also, we will discuss why targeting connexins can be a plausible therapeutic strategy to manage these neurodegenerative diseases.


2011 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 440-452 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.V. Maltsev ◽  
S. Bystryak ◽  
O.V. Galzitskaya

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 953
Author(s):  
Federica Piancone ◽  
Francesca La Rosa ◽  
Ivana Marventano ◽  
Marina Saresella ◽  
Mario Clerici

Neurodegenerative diseases are chronic, progressive disorders that occur in the central nervous system (CNS). They are characterized by the loss of neuronal structure and function and are associated with inflammation. Inflammation of the CNS is called neuroinflammation, which has been implicated in most neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and multiple sclerosis (MS). Much evidence indicates that these different conditions share a common inflammatory mechanism: the activation of the inflammasome complex in peripheral monocytes and in microglia, with the consequent production of high quantities of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18. Inflammasomes are a group of multimeric signaling complexes that include a sensor Nod-like receptor (NLR) molecule, the adaptor protein ASC, and caspase-1. The NLRP3 inflammasome is currently the best-characterized inflammasome. Multiple signals, which are potentially provided in combination and include endogenous danger signals and pathogens, trigger the formation of an active inflammasome, which, in turn, will stimulate the cleavage and the release of bioactive cytokines including IL-1β and IL-18. In this review, we will summarize results implicating the inflammasome as a pivotal player in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases and discuss how compounds that hamper the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome could offer novel therapeutic avenues for these diseases.


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (34) ◽  
pp. 5790-5828 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ze Wang ◽  
Chunyang He ◽  
Jing-Shan Shi

Neurodegenerative diseases are a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by the progressive degeneration of the structure and function of the central nervous system or peripheral nervous system. Alzheimer's Disease (AD), Parkinson's Disease (PD) and Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) are the common neurodegenerative diseases, which typically occur in people over the age of 60. With the rapid development of an aged society, over 60 million people worldwide are suffering from these uncurable diseases. Therefore, the search for new drugs and therapeutic methods has become an increasingly important research topic. Natural products especially those from the Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCMs), are the most important sources of drugs, and have received extensive interest among pharmacist. In this review, in order to facilitate further chemical modification of those useful natural products by pharmacists, we will bring together recent studies in single natural compound from TCMs with neuroprotective effect.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberta Lattanzi ◽  
Cinzia Severini ◽  
Daniela Maftei ◽  
Luciano Saso ◽  
Aldo Badiani

The prokineticin (PK) family, prokineticin 1 and Bv8/prokineticin 2 (PROK2), initially discovered as regulators of gastrointestinal motility, interacts with two G protein-coupled receptors, PKR1 and PKR2, regulating important biological functions such as circadian rhythms, metabolism, angiogenesis, neurogenesis, muscle contractility, hematopoiesis, immune response, reproduction and pain perception. PROK2 and PK receptors, in particular PKR2, are widespread distributed in the central nervous system, in both neurons and glial cells. The PROK2 expression levels can be increased by a series of pathological insults, such as hypoxia, reactive oxygen species, beta amyloid and excitotoxic glutamate. This suggests that the PK system, participating in different cellular processes that cause neuronal death, can be a key mediator in neurological/neurodegenerative diseases. While many PROK2/PKRs effects in physiological processes have been documented, their role in neuropathological conditions is not fully clarified, since PROK2 can have a double function in the mechanisms underlying to neurodegeneration or neuroprotection. Here, we briefly outline the latest findings on the modulation of PROK2 and its cognate receptors following different pathological insults, providing information about their opposite neurotoxic and neuroprotective role in different pathological conditions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 265-289
Author(s):  
Andrew T. Moehlman ◽  
Richard J. Youle

Maintaining mitochondrial health is essential for the survival and function of eukaryotic organisms. Misfunctioning mitochondria activate stress-responsive pathways to restore mitochondrial network homeostasis, remove damaged or toxic proteins, and eliminate damaged organelles via selective autophagy of mitochondria, a process termed mitophagy. Failure of these quality control pathways is implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. Impairment of mitochondrial quality control has been demonstrated to activate innate immune pathways, including inflammasome-mediated signaling and the antiviral cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)/stimulator of interferon genes (STING)–regulated interferon response. Immune system malfunction is a common hallmark in many neurodegenerative diseases; however, whether inflammation suppresses or exacerbates disease pathology is still unclear. The goal of this review is to provide a historical overview of the field, describe mechanisms of mitochondrial quality control, and highlight recent advances on the emerging role of mitochondria in innate immunity and inflammation.


Antioxidants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 700
Author(s):  
Maria Rosito ◽  
Claudia Testi ◽  
Giacomo Parisi ◽  
Barbara Cortese ◽  
Paola Baiocco ◽  
...  

The maintenance of redox homeostasis in the brain is critical for the prevention of the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Drugs acting on brain redox balance can be promising for the treatment of neurodegeneration. For more than four decades, dimethyl fumarate (DMF) and other derivatives of fumaric acid ester compounds have been shown to mitigate a number of pathological mechanisms associated with psoriasis and relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). Recently, DMF has been shown to exert a neuroprotective effect on the central nervous system (CNS), possibly through the modulation of microglia detrimental actions, observed also in multiple brain injuries. In addition to the hypothesis that DMF is linked to the activation of NRF2 and NF-kB transcription factors, the neuroprotective action of DMF may be mediated by the activation of the glutathione (GSH) antioxidant pathway and the regulation of brain iron homeostasis. This review will focus on the role of DMF as an antioxidant modulator in microglia processes and on its mechanisms of action in the modulation of different pathways to attenuate neurodegenerative disease progression.


Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 2594
Author(s):  
Yue Ruan ◽  
Tobias Böhmer ◽  
Subao Jiang ◽  
Adrian Gericke

The retina is a part of the central nervous system, a thin multilayer with neuronal lamination, responsible for detecting, preprocessing, and sending visual information to the brain. Many retinal diseases are characterized by hemodynamic perturbations and neurodegeneration leading to vision loss and reduced quality of life. Since catecholamines and respective bindings sites have been characterized in the retina, we systematically reviewed the literature with regard to retinal expression, distribution and function of alpha1 (α1)-, alpha2 (α2)-, and beta (β)-adrenoceptors (ARs). Moreover, we discuss the role of the individual adrenoceptors as targets for the treatment of retinal diseases.


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