Marta Tajes

Evaluation of potential pro‐survival pathways regulated by melatonin in a murine senescence model

Abstract:  We examined the effect of melatonin on pro‐survival processes in three groups of mice. Untreated senescence‐accelerated mice (SAMP8), melatonin‐treated SAMP8 and untreated senescence‐accelerated resistant mice (SAMR1) of 10 months old were studied. Melatonin (10 mg/kg) or vehicle (ethanol at 0.066%) was supplied in the drinking water from the end of the first month until the end of the ninth month of life. Differences in the Akt/Erk1‐2 pathway and downstream targets were examined and no significant changes were observed, except for β‐catenin. However, sirtuin 1 expression was significantly lower in SAMP8 than in SAMR1. In addition, acetylated p53 and NFκB expression were lower in SAMP8 than in SAMR1. These changes were prevented by melatonin. Moreover, the concentration/expression of α‐secretase was lower and that of amyloid β aggregates (Aβ) was higher in untreated SAMP8 than in SAMR1. Likewise, the levels of Bid were higher, whereas Bcl‐2XL levels were lower in SAMP8 than in SAMR1. Melatonin reduced all these changes. We conclude that melatonin improves pro‐survival signals and reduces pro‐death signals in age‐related impairments of neural processes.

Modulation of Sirtuins: New Targets for Antiageing

Aging is characterized by a progressive deterioration of physiological functions and metabolic processes. Healthy aging remains one of the ideals of modern society. In aging and in diseases associated with the elderly, such as Alzheimers or Parkinsons, the loss of cells in vital structures or organs may be related to several factors, among which the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by mitochondria is a common denominator, one that leads to DNA damage, apoptosis and death. Although a diet rich in antioxidants seems to offer hope in delaying the onset of unhealthy disorders that accompany aging, no clinical treatment as such has yet been developed and anti-aging drugs are still unavailable. It is well established that reducing food intake (caloric restriction) extends the life-span in a wide range of species. The protein implicated in this protective process is the silent information regulator 2 (SIR2, SIRT1 in mammals), an enzyme that belongs to a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)+-dependent protein deacetylases. SIRs regulate gene silencing, DNA repair, rDNA recombination, and ageing, apart from regulating programmed cell death. In this context, increasing SIRT1 has been found to protect cells against amyloid-beta-induced ROS production and DNA damage, thereby reducing apoptotic death in vitro. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that Alzheimers and Huntingtons disease neurons are rescued by the over-expression of SIRT1, induced by either caloric restriction or administration of resveratrol, a potential activator of this enzyme. The therapeutic use of resveratrol (a polyphenol present in red wines) and other related compounds, which utilize SIRT1 pathway modulators, in treating aging-related brain disorders will be discussed in this review. Provided herein are novel new compound related with resveratrol or sirtinol that are able to modulate sirtuin activity that will be tested to treat and/or prevent a wide variety of diseases including, disorders related to aging or neurodegenerative diseases.

Anti-aging properties of melatonin in an in vitro murine senescence model: involvement of the sirtuin 1 pathway

Abstract:  Sirtuin 1 is a member of the sirtuin family of protein deacetylases, which have attracted considerable attention as mediators of lifespan extension in several model organisms. Induction of sirtuin 1 expression also attenuates neuronal degeneration and death in animal models of Alzheimer’s disease and Huntington’s disease. In this study, an in vitro model of neuronal aging was used to test in several ways whether melatonin acts as a sirtuin 1 inducer and if this effect could be neuroprotective. It is shown that melatonin is able to increase the level of this deacetylase in young primary neurons, as well as in aged neurons. We also observed an increase in the deacetylation of several substrates of sirtuin 1, such as p53, PGC‐1α, FoxO1, ADAM10 and NFκB. In addition, there was a reduction in its nuclear translocation and, subsequently, an improvement in transcriptional activity. Sirtinol, a sirtuin 1 inhibitor, was used to correlate these effects with sirtuin. It is shown that sirtinol reduces sirtuin 1 expression and impairs the beneficial action of melatonin on cell viability and apoptosis prevention. Moreover, some of the sirtuin 1 substrates studied also reversed the melatonin effect when sirtinol is added to the cells, mainly p53. Globally, these results add weight to the findings of previous reports, indicating a new role for melatonin in improving cell function gated to an increased neuroprotective role for the sirtuin 1 pathway.

Modulation of SIRT1 expression in different neurodegenerative models and human pathologies

We examined the expression of SIRT1 in several experimental paradigms of human pathologies. We used a neuroblastoma cell line (B65), neuronal primary cultures (hippocampus and cerebellar granule cells) and in vivo approaches in rat and senescence murine models (SAM). Cell cultures and rats were treated with several well-know neurotoxins, i.e. rotenone, MPP(+), kainate and 3-nitropropionic acid. Subsequently, SIRT1 expression was compared in these different paradigms of neurotoxicity. The pattern of expression of SIRT1 in proliferating cell cultures (B65) was different to that in quiescent cell cultures. In the murine model of senescence (senescence-accelerated mice prone, SAMP8), SIRT1 expression progressively decreased, while in the control strain (senescence-accelerated mice resistant, SAMR1) it increased. Finally, we studied human samples of Parkinsons disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Huntingtons diseases (HD). SIRT1 expression decreased dramatically in HD, but there were no significant changes in Parkinson-related illnesses. In conclusion, SIRT1 expression may be a good sensor of toxic neuronal processes.

Inhibition of the cdk5/p25 fragment formation may explain the antiapoptotic effects of melatonin in an experimental model of Parkinson's disease

Abstract:  In this study, the effects of melatonin on MPP+‐treated cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs) in culture were investigated. Results showed that MPP+ treatment significantly decreased cell viability and increased the apoptotic cell population at 24 and 48 hr. Calpain and caspase‐3 activation was also determined, with results showing a strong increase in calpain (74%) and caspase 3 activity (70%), as measured by α‐spectrin cleavage and fluorometric and colorimetric analysis, respectively. There are several studies suggesting that the activation of the cdk5/p35 pathway at its cleavage to cdk5/p25 may play a role in neuronal cell death in neurodegenerative diseases. Moreover, these studies indicate that this cleavage is mediated by calpains, and that MPP+ prompted an increase in cdk5 expression, as well as the cleavage of p35–p25, in a time‐dependent manner. 1 mm Melatonin not only reduced the neurotoxic effects of MPP+ on cell viability, but also prevented apoptosis mediated by this Parkinsonian toxin in CGNs. 1 mm Melatonin reduced cdk5 expression, as well as the cleavage of p35–p25. These data indicate that melatonin possesses some neuro‐protective properties against MPP+‐induced apoptosis. Moreover, these data suggest that the calpain/cdk5 signaling cascade has a potential role in the MPP+‐mediated apoptotic process in CGNs.

Lithium treatment decreases activities of tau kinases in a murine model of senescence.

Lithium modulates glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β), a kinase involved in Alzheimer disease-related tau pathology. To investigate mechanisms of aging and the potential therapy of lithium in neurodegenerative disease, we treated senescence-accelerated mouse (SAM)P8 mice, a murine model of senescence, and mice of the control SAMR1 strain with lithium. The treatment reduced hippocampal caspase 3 and calpain activation, indicating that it provides neuroprotection. Lithium also reduced both the levels and activity of GSK-3β and the activity of cyclin-dependent kinase 5 and reduced hyperphosphorylation of 3 different phosphoepitopes of tau: Ser199, Ser212, and Ser396. In lithium-treated primary cultures of SAMP8 and SAMR1 cerebellar neurons, there was a marked reduction in protease activity mediated by calpain and caspase 3. Both lithium and SB415286, a specific inhibitor of GSK-3β, reduced apoptosis in vitro. Taken together, these in vivo and in vitro findings of lithium-mediated reductions in GSK-3β and cyclin-dependent kinase 5 activities, tau phosphorylation, apoptotic activity, and cell death provide a strong rationale for the use of lithium as a potential treatment in neurodegenerative diseases.

Inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinases is neuroprotective in 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium-induced apoptosis in neurons

The biochemical pathways involved in neuronal cell death in Parkinsons disease are not completely characterized. Mitochondrial dysfunction, specifically alteration of the mitochondrial complex I, is the primary target of the parkinsonian neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) induced apoptosis in neurons. In the present study, we examine the role of caspase-dependent and -independent routes in MPP+-induced apoptosis in rat cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs). We show a distinct increase in the expression of the cell cycle proteins cyclin D, cyclin E, cdk2, cdk4 and the transcription factor E2F-1 following a MPP+ treatment of CGNs. Flavopiridol (FLAV), a broad inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), attenuated the neurotoxic effects of MPP+ and significantly attenuates apoptosis mediated by MPP+ 200 microM. Likewise, the antioxidant vitamin E (vit E) increases neuronal cell viability and attenuates apoptosis induced by MPP+. Moreover, the expression levels of cyclin D and E2F-1 induced by this parkinsonian neurotoxin were also attenuated by vit E. Since, the broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor zVAD-fmk did not attenuate MPP+-induced apoptosis in CGNs, our data provide a caspase-independent mechanism mediated by neuronal reentry in the cell cycle and increased expression of the pro-apoptotic transcription factor E2F-1. Our results also suggest a potential role of oxidative stress in neuronal reentry in the cell cycle mediated by MPP+. Finally, our data further support the therapeutic potential of flavopiridol, for the treatment of Parkinsons disease.

Amyloid-β Peptide Fibrils Induce Nitro-Oxidative Stress in Neuronal Cells

Different mechanisms including oxidative stress are proposed for amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) neurotoxicity, and here we contribute to demonstrate that nitro-oxidative stress is playing a key role. Yeasts are a well-known model for H2O2 toxicity. Interestingly, yeast cell wall prevents interaction of Aβ fibrils with membrane receptors or calcium channels and we found a significant viability reduction in yeasts when challenged with Aβ fibrils. Furthermore, iron and copper chelators, as well as the antioxidants glutathione and trolox, were neuroprotective on neuroblastoma cells and mouse hippocampal neurons challenged with Aβ fibrils. Glutathione prevents the oxidation, glycation and nitrotyrosination of cell proteins induced by Aβ. Trolox protected neurons in cell viability studies, maintaining the vesicular transport integrity and preventing the trigger of apoptotic mechanisms. Interestingly, we have also found that brain derived neuronal factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) were able to protect mouse hippocampal and cortical neurons against H2O2 and Aβ fibrils. Considering that superoxide anion, produced by Aβ cell damage, and nitric oxide, whose production is altered in AD, react to form the highly reactive peroxynitrite anion, we studied the role of trolox to ameliorate the peroxynitrite cell damage. Finally, one of the major proteins to be nitrotyrosinated in AD, the triose phosphate isomerase (TPI) was assayed searching for a denitrase activity that could reverse intracellular nitrotyrosination. We have found that human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells express a constitutive denitrase activity that partially denitrated nitro-TPI. Altogether, our results support a key role of nitro-oxidative stress in the neuronal damage induced by Aβ fibrils.

Activation of Akt by lithium: pro-survival pathways in aging.

The effects of lithium on senescence were investigated using the senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) mice and cultures of aging cerebellar granule cells. Our in vitro findings, using cerebellar granule neurons, demonstrate that lithium (1-10mM) exerts neuroprotective effects in young cultures (7-8 days) against LY294002-induced Akt inhibition. Furthermore, lithium (10mM) inhibits GSK-3beta activity by upregulating p-GSK-3beta (ser-9) and increases p-FOXO1 (Ser256) suggesting an effective anti-apoptotic effect. Our data also showed that lithium in aged cultures exerts anti-apoptotic effects via Akt activation and consequent inhibition of downstream targets regulated by this enzyme. Finally, the administration of lithium to senescence-accelerated mice (SAMP8) and senescence-accelerated resistant mice (SAMR1) at 3 months of age also caused increased Akt activity and p-FoxO-1. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of lithium in preventing age-related neural loss and the potential therapeutic applications of lithium in treatment/prevention of neurological disease.

Neuroprotective role of intermittent fasting in senescence-accelerated mice P8 (SAMP8)

Dietary interventions have been proposed as a way to increase lifespan and improve health. The senescence-accelerated prone 8 (SAMP8) mice have a shorter lifespan and show alterations in the central nervous system. Moreover, this mouse strain shows decreased sirtuin 1 protein expression and elevated expression of the acetylated targets NFkappaB and FoxO1, which are implicated in transcriptional control of key genes in cell proliferation and cell survival, in reference to control strain, SAMR1. After eight weeks of intermittent fasting, sirtuin 1 protein expression was recovered in SAMP8. This recovery was accompanied by a reduction in the two acetylated targets. Furthermore, SAMP8 showed a lower protein expression of BDNF and HSP70 while intermittent fasting re-established normal values. The activation of JNK and FoxO1 was also reduced in SAMP8 mice subjected to an IF regimen, compared with control SAMP8. Our findings provide new insights into the participation of sirtuin 1 in ageing and point to a potential novel application of this enzyme to prevent frailty due to ageing processes in the brain.