Showing posts with label Multiple System Atrophy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Multiple System Atrophy. Show all posts

Monday, May 28, 2018

Curcumin inhibits aggregation of α-synuclein

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00401-007-0332-4

See also ==> http://hl123.blogspot.sg/2018/05/httpswww.html?m=1

Abstract

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Aggregation of amyloid-beta protein (Aβ) is a key pathogenic event in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Curcumin, a constituent of the Indian spice Turmeric is structurally similar to Congo Red and has been demonstrated to bind Aβ amyloid and prevent further oligomerization of Aβ monomers onto growing amyloid β-sheets. Reasoning that oligomerization kinetics and mechanism of amyloid formation are similar in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and AD, we investigated the effect of curcumin on α-synuclein (AS) protein aggregation. In vitro model of AS aggregation was developed by treatment of purified AS protein (wild-type) with 1 mM Fe3+ (Fenton reaction). It was observed that the addition of curcumin inhibited aggregation in a dose-dependent manner and increased AS solubility. The aggregation-inhibiting effect of curcumin was next investigated in cell culture utilizing catecholaminergic SH-SY5Y cell line. A model system was developed in which the red fluorescent protein (DsRed2) was fused with A53T mutant of AS and its aggregation examined under different concentrations of curcumin. To estimate aggregation in an unbiased manner, a protocol was developed in which the images were captured automatically through a high-throughput cell-based screening microscope. The obtained images were processed automatically for aggregates within a defined dimension of 1–6 μm. Greater than 32% decrease in mutant α-synuclein aggregation was observed within 48 h subsequent to curcumin addition. Our data suggest that curcumin inhibits AS oligomerization into higher molecular weight aggregates and therefore should be further explored as a potential therapeutic compound for PD and related disorders.
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Monday, May 1, 2017

Abnormal alpha-synuclein accumulation and multiple system atrophy

Researchers hope to learn why the protein alpha-synuclein accumulates in glial cells in MSA and neuronal (nerve) cells in Parkinson’s disease.  Recent studies have demonstrated that the alpha-synuclein taken from brain tissue of patients with MSA is a potent inducer of alpha-synuclein clumping when injected into the brain of experimental animals.  One exciting area of ongoing research is aimed at blocking the spread of this protein clumping problem throughout the brain. 

Recent research suggests that abnormal alpha-synuclein accumulation in nerve cells and their supporting cells leads to cellular dysfunction and progressive loss of nerve cell function (neurodegeneration).  Using cell models of MSA, scientists were able to show that damage to mitochondria (cellular “power plants”) and the generation of abnormal alpha-synuclein aggregates may contribute to the development of MSA.  Research in animal models may determine if drugs that reduce the abnormal alpha-synuclein accumulation might be promising treatments for MSA. 

Https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Multiple-System-Atrophy#3145_5

Sunday, March 5, 2017

Neuroinflammation in Multiple System Atrophy: Response to and Cause of α-Synuclein Aggregation https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4700780/

Neuroinflammation in Multiple System Atrophy: Response to and Cause of α-Synuclein Aggregation

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4700780/

Abstract

Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease presenting with combinations of autonomic dysfunction, parkinsonism, cerebellar ataxia and/or pyramidal signs. Oligodendroglial cytoplasmic inclusions (GCIs) rich in α-synuclein (α-syn) constitute the disease hallmark, accompanied by neuronal loss and activation of glial cells which indicate neuroinflammation. Recent studies demonstrate that α-syn may be released from degenerating neurons to mediate formation of abnormal inclusion bodies and to induce neuroinflammation which, interestingly, might also favor the formation of intracellular α-syn aggregates as a consequence of cytokine release and the shift to a pro-inflammatory environment. Here, we critically review the relationships between α-syn and astrocytic and microglial activation in MSA to explore the potential of therapeutics which target neuroinflammation.

Keywords: multiple system atrophy, α-synuclein, neuroinflammation, astrocytes, microglia