scholarly journals Insights into the Pathogenesis of Neurodegenerative Diseases: Focus on Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Oxidative Stress

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (21) ◽  
pp. 11847
Author(s):  
Anamaria Jurcau

As the population ages, the incidence of neurodegenerative diseases is increasing. Due to intensive research, important steps in the elucidation of pathogenetic cascades have been made and significantly implicated mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. However, the available treatment in Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is mainly symptomatic, providing minor benefits and, at most, slowing down the progression of the disease. Although in preclinical setting, drugs targeting mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress yielded encouraging results, clinical trials failed or had inconclusive results. It is likely that by the time of clinical diagnosis, the pathogenetic cascades are full-blown and significant numbers of neurons have already degenerated, making it impossible for mitochondria-targeted or antioxidant molecules to stop or reverse the process. Until further research will provide more efficient molecules, a healthy lifestyle, with plenty of dietary antioxidants and avoidance of exogenous oxidants may postpone the onset of neurodegeneration, while familial cases may benefit from genetic testing and aggressive therapy started in the preclinical stage.

Author(s):  
Linlin Zhang ◽  
Aurelio Reyes ◽  
Xiangdong Wang

Abstract: The discovery of charged molecules being able to cross the mitochondrial membrane has prompted many scholars to exploit this idea to find a way of preventing or slowing down aging. In this paper, we will focus on mitochondriatargeted antioxidants, which are cationic derivatives of plastoquinone, and in particular on the mitochondria-targeted antioxidant therapy of neurodegenerative diseases. It is well known that the accumulation of amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) in mitochondria and its related mitochondrial dysfunction are critical signatures of Alzheimer’ s disease (AD). In another neurodegenerative disease, Parkinson’s disease (PD), the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and the production of Lewy bodies are among their pathological features. Pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease has been frequently linked to mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. Recent studies show that MitoQ, a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant, may possess therapeutic potential for Aβ-related and oxidative stress-associated neurodegenerative diseases, especially AD. Although MitoQ has been developed to the stage of clinical trials in PD, its true clinical effect still need further verification. This review aims to discuss the role of mitochondrial pathology in neurodegenerative diseases, as well as the recent development of mitochondrial targeted antioxidants as a potential treatment for these diseases by removing excess oxygen free radicals and inhibiting lipid peroxidation in order to improve mitochondrial function.  


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Linlin Zhang ◽  
Aurelio Reyes ◽  
Xiangdong Wang

The discovery of charged molecules being able to cross the mitochondrial membrane has prompted many scholars to exploit this idea to find a way of preventing or slowing down aging. In this paper, we will focus on mitochondria-targeted antioxidants, which are cationic derivatives of plastoquinone, and in particular on the mitochondria-targeted antioxidant therapy of neurodegenerative diseases. It is well known that the accumulation of amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) in mitochondria and its related mitochondrial dysfunction are critical signatures of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In another neurodegenerative disease, Parkinson’s disease (PD), the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and the production of Lewy bodies are among their pathological features. Pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease has been frequently linked to mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. Recent studies show that MitoQ, a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant, may possess therapeutic potential for Aβ-related and oxidative stress-associated neurodegenerative diseases, especially AD. Although MitoQ has been developed to the stage of clinical trials in PD, its true clinical effect still need further verification. This review aims to discuss the role of mitochondrial pathology in neurodegenerative diseases, as well as the recent development of mitochondrial targeted antioxidants as a potential treatment for these diseases by removing excess oxygen free radicals and inhibiting lipid peroxidation in order to improve mitochondrial function.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (9) ◽  
pp. e0239625
Author(s):  
Prasanna M. Chandramouleeswaran ◽  
Manti Guha ◽  
Masataka Shimonosono ◽  
Kelly A. Whelan ◽  
Hisatsugu Maekawa ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Nesrine S. El Sayed ◽  
Mamdooh H. Ghoneum

Background. Many neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease are associated with oxidative stress. Therefore, antioxidant therapy has been suggested for the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Objective. We investigated the ability of the antioxidant Antia to exert a protective effect against sporadic Alzheimer’s disease (SAD) induced in mice. Antia is a natural product that is extracted from the edible yamabushitake mushroom, the gotsukora and kothala himbutu plants, diosgenin (an extract from wild yam tubers), and amla (Indian gooseberry) after treatment with MRN-100. Methods. Single intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of streptozotocin (STZ) (3 mg/kg) was used for induction of SAD in mice. Antia was injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) in 3 doses (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg/day) for 21 days. Neurobehavioral tests were conducted within 24 h after the last day of injection. Afterwards, mice were sacrificed and their hippocampi were rapidly excised, weighed, and homogenized to be used for measuring biochemical parameters. Results. Treatment with Antia significantly improved mice performance in the Morris water maze. In addition, biochemical analysis showed that Antia exerted a protective effect for several compounds, including GSH, MDA, NF-κB, IL-6, TNF-α, and amyloid β. Further studies with western blot showed the protective effect of Antia for the JAK2/STAT3 pathway. Conclusions. Antia exerts a significant protection against cognitive dysfunction induced by ICV-STZ injection. This effect is achieved through targeting of the amyloidogenic, inflammatory, and oxidative stress pathways. The JAK2/STAT3 pathway plays a protective role for neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases such as SAD.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
pp. 5851
Author(s):  
Takehito Sugasawa ◽  
Seiko Ono ◽  
Masato Yonamine ◽  
Shin-ichiro Fujita ◽  
Yuki Matsumoto ◽  
...  

The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been rapidly increasing worldwide. A choline-deficient, L-amino acid-defined, high-fat diet (CDAHFD) has been used to create a mouse model of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). There are some reports on the effects on mice of being fed a CDAHFD for long periods of 1 to 3 months. However, the effect of this diet over a short period is unknown. Therefore, we examined the effect of 1-week CDAHFD feeding on the mouse liver. Feeding a CDAHFD diet for only 1-week induced lipid droplet deposition in the liver with increasing activity of liver-derived enzymes in the plasma. On the other hand, it did not induce fibrosis or cirrhosis. Additionally, it was demonstrated that CDAHFD significantly impaired mitochondrial respiration with severe oxidative stress to the liver, which is associated with a decreasing mitochondrial DNA copy number and complex proteins. In the gene expression analysis of the liver, inflammatory and oxidative stress markers were significantly increased by CDAHFD. These results demonstrated that 1 week of feeding CDAHFD to mice induces steatohepatitis with mitochondrial dysfunction and severe oxidative stress, without fibrosis, which can partially mimic the early stage of NASH in humans.


Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 552
Author(s):  
Jasmine Harley ◽  
Benjamin E. Clarke ◽  
Rickie Patani

RNA binding proteins fulfil a wide number of roles in gene expression. Multiple mechanisms of RNA binding protein dysregulation have been implicated in the pathomechanisms of several neurodegenerative diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction also play important roles in these diseases. In this review, we highlight the mechanistic interplay between RNA binding protein dysregulation, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in ALS. We also discuss different potential therapeutic strategies targeting these pathways.


Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 229
Author(s):  
JunHyuk Woo ◽  
Hyesun Cho ◽  
YunHee Seol ◽  
Soon Ho Kim ◽  
Chanhyeok Park ◽  
...  

The brain needs more energy than other organs in the body. Mitochondria are the generator of vital power in the living organism. Not only do mitochondria sense signals from the outside of a cell, but they also orchestrate the cascade of subcellular events by supplying adenosine-5′-triphosphate (ATP), the biochemical energy. It is known that impaired mitochondrial function and oxidative stress contribute or lead to neuronal damage and degeneration of the brain. This mini-review focuses on addressing how mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress are associated with the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease. In addition, we discuss state-of-the-art computational models of mitochondrial functions in relation to oxidative stress and neurodegeneration. Together, a better understanding of brain disease-specific mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress can pave the way to developing antioxidant therapeutic strategies to ameliorate neuronal activity and prevent neurodegeneration.


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