cytochrome-c-t and Cognition-Disorders

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is rapidly grooving incidence that affects millions of people worldwide, therefore there is an immediate need for its' early and accurate diagnosis. Many research studies have been performed on possible accurate and reliable diagnostic biomarkers of AD. This review study provides an overview on the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) proteins that are used as biochemical markers for the early diagnosis of AD and their future prospects, as well as relevant patents.

Topics: Alzheimer Disease; Amyloid beta-Peptides; Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases; Biomarkers; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins; Cognition Disorders; Cytochromes c; Humans; Inflammation Mediators; Isoprostanes; Metals; Molecular Structure; Patents as Topic; Peptide Fragments; tau Proteins

Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease that mainly affects optic nerves and spinal cord. Besides, loss of motor and cognitive function has been reported as important symptoms of disease.. Here we investigated the mitochondrial dysfunction and metabolic alterations in NMO patients and evaluate their correlation with disease progress, disability and cognitive impairment.. The individuals (12 controls and 12 NMO) were assessed for disease severity by expanded disease status scale (EDSS), cognitive function via symbol digit modalities test (SDMT) and fine motor disability by 9-hole peg test (9-HPT). We have measured Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), SIRT3, mitochondrial complex I, complex IV, aconitase and α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (α-KGD) activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Furthermore, SIRT1, pyruvate, lactate and cytochrome c (Cyt c) were determined in plasma.. Our results exhibited increased 9-HPT time in NMO patients. 9-HPT results correlated with EDSS; and SDMT negatively correlated with disease duration and number of attacks in patients. Investigation of PBMCs of NMO patients exhibited a decrease of mitochondrial complex I and IV activity that was significant for complex IV. Besides, complex I activity was negatively correlated with 9-HPT time in NMO group. In the plasma samples, a correlation between pyruvate to lactate ratio and EDSS in NMO patients was found and a negative correlation between Cyt c concentration and SDMT was detected.. Our data support the hypothesis that mitochondrial dysfunction occurred in the CNS and the peripheral blood may contribute to disease progress, disability level and the cognitive impairment in NMO patients.

Topics: Adult; Case-Control Studies; Cognition Disorders; Cytochromes c; Electron Transport Complex I; Electron Transport Complex IV; Female; Humans; Lactic Acid; Leukocytes, Mononuclear; Male; Middle Aged; Mitochondria; Neuromyelitis Optica; Pyruvic Acid; Severity of Illness Index; Sirtuin 1; Sirtuin 3

Although chemotherapy increases the survival rate of patients with various cancers, such treatment can induce acute or long-term cognitive dysfunction a phenomenon known as post-chemotherapy cognitive impairment (PCCI) or "chemobrain." Exercise is known to positively affect brain function. Thus, the present study aimed to determine whether symptoms of chemobrain and disruptions in the neuroplasticity and functioning of hippocampal mitochondria can be prevented or relieved by exercise. Wistar rats were separated into the following groups: control, control plus exercise, chemobrain, and chemobrain plus exercise. For chemobrain induction, 2 mg/kg of doxorubicin (DOX) a widely utilized chemotherapeutic agent among patients with breast cancer was dissolved in saline and directly injected to the abdomen once every 4 weeks. The exercise groups were subjected to low-intensity treadmill, 6 days per week for 4 weeks. The Morris water maze and step-down avoidance tests were conducted to evaluate cognitive function, while neuroplasticity and mitochondrial function were assessed in the hippocampus and dentate gyrus. Decreased cognitive function were observed in the chemobrain group, along with decreases in levels of neurogenesis, brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB), Ca

Topics: Animals; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; Avoidance Learning; bcl-2-Associated X Protein; Bromodeoxyuridine; Calcium; Caspase 3; Cognition Disorders; Cytochromes c; Disease Models, Animal; Doublecortin Domain Proteins; Doxorubicin; Hippocampus; Hydrogen Peroxide; In Situ Nick-End Labeling; Male; Maze Learning; Microtubule-Associated Proteins; Mitochondria; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Neuronal Plasticity; Neuropeptides; Physical Conditioning, Animal; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Time Factors

The progressive accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) in the form of senile plaques has been recognized as a key causative factor leading to the cognitive deficits seen in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recent evidence indicates that Aβ induces neurotoxicity in the primary neuronal cultures as well as in the brain. Previously, we have demonstrated that isorhynchophylline (IRN), the major chemical ingredient of Uncaria rhynchophylla, possessed potent neuroprotective effects. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effect of IRN on cognitive function, neuronal apoptosis, and tau protein hyperphosphorylation in the hippocampus of the Aβ25-35-treated rats and to elucidate its action mechanisms. We showed that Aβ25-35 injection caused spatial memory impairment, neuronal apoptosis, and tau protein hyperphosphorylation. Treatment with IRN (20 or 40 mg/kg) for 21 days could significantly ameliorate the cognitive deficits induced by Aβ25-35 in the rats. In addition, IRN attenuated the Aβ25-35-induced neuronal apoptosis in hippocampus by down-regulating the protein and mRNA levels of the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax, cleaved caspase-3 and caspase-9, as well as suppressing the tau protein hyperphosphorylation at the Ser396, Ser404, and Thr205 sites. Mechanistic study showed that IRN could inhibit the glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β) activity, and activate the phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) substrate Akt. These results indicate that down-regulation of GSK-3β activity and activation of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway are intimately involved in the neuroprotection of IRN. The experimental findings provide further evidence to affirm the potential of IRN as a worthy candidate for further development into a therapeutic agent for AD and other tau pathology-related neurodegenerative diseases.

Topics: Alzheimer Disease; Amyloid beta-Peptides; Animals; Apoptosis; bcl-2-Associated X Protein; Caspases; Cognition Disorders; Cytochromes c; Disease Models, Animal; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; Hippocampus; Indole Alkaloids; Male; Maze Learning; Neurons; Neuroprotective Agents; Oxindoles; Peptide Fragments; Phosphorylation; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Space Perception; tau Proteins

Trans-2, 4-dimethoxystibene (S3) is a synthetic stilbenes. In the present study, S3 was investigated to assess its neuroprotective effect against the toxicity induced by Abeta(25-35) in hypercholesterolemic rats. Rats were fed with hypercholesterolemic chow for six weeks, and then received a single intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of Abeta(25-35) and a treatment with S3 or estradiol (E2). Behavioral changes and neuron apoptosis in rats were evaluated using Morris water maze, step-down test and TUNEL tests. To further explore the mechanism of S3, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), choline acetyl transferase (ChAT), acetylcholine esterase (AchE) and the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) in hippocampus were analyzed by spectrophotometric method. At the same time, the releases of cytochrome C were analyzed by Western Blot, and the contents of acetylcholine (Ach) were analyzed by Elisa. The data showed that consumption of S3 (50mg/kg/d) significantly ameliorated the cognitive deficits and neuron apoptosis caused by i.c.v. injection of Abeta(25-35). Meanwhile, S3 reversed the decreased activity of ChAT, SOD, GSH-Px and contents of Ach, as well as the increased activity of AchE, MDA contents and the release of cytochrome C in hippocampus. These findings suggest that S3 may be a potential candidate for development as therapeutic agent to treat AD through regulating cholinergic nerve system and anti-oxidative mechanism.

Topics: Acetylcholine; Acetylcholinesterase; Amyloid beta-Peptides; Analysis of Variance; Animals; Apoptosis; Choline O-Acetyltransferase; Cognition Disorders; Cytochromes c; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Glutathione Peroxidase; GPI-Linked Proteins; Hippocampus; Hypercholesterolemia; Injections, Intraventricular; Malondialdehyde; Maze Learning; Neurons; Neuroprotective Agents; Peptide Fragments; Psychomotor Performance; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Reaction Time; Stilbenes; Superoxide Dismutase; Time Factors

The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of CSF cytochrome c levels and auditory event-related potentials (AERPs) on the progress of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to Alzheimer's disease (AD). Fifty one patients diagnosed with MCI and fourteen healthy individuals underwent lumbar puncture at baseline and their CSF cytochrome c levels were determined. A follow-up examination of cytochrome c levels took place in 20 patients after 11 months and in this period five of the patients progressed to AD. ERP examinations were also performed in all patients both at baseline and follow-up. MCI patients had significantly higher cytochrome c levels compared to healthy controls (Mann-Whitney test, Z=-2.110, p=0.018). Compared to MCI patients who remained stable, the AD-converters, had a higher increase over time in cytochrome c levels (Mann-Whitney test, p=0.002; effect size r=0.63) and significantly prolonged N200 latency (Mann-Whitney test, p<0.001; effect size r=0.50). Amongst investigated ERP variables, only N200 amplitude was significantly correlated with CSF cytochrome c levels (rs=0.310, p=0.03). Both parameters were proved capable of discriminating AD converters from those MCI patients who remained stable, with sensitivity and specificity >75%. Our results suggest that conversion from MCI to AD is associated with a marked elevated N200 latency at baseline and a high increase in cytochrome c levels during a relatively short period of time, and that both parameters could be possibly considered as candidate markers for the discrimination between MCI patients who convert to AD and those who remain stable.

Topics: Acoustic Stimulation; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alzheimer Disease; Analysis of Variance; Cognition Disorders; Cytochromes c; Disease Progression; Electroencephalography; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Evoked Potentials, Auditory; Female; Humans; Male; Mental Status Schedule; Middle Aged; Predictive Value of Tests; Reaction Time