Examinando por Autor "Ávila-Rodriguez, M."

Mostrando 1 - 2 de 2
  • Miniatura
    ÍtemAcceso Abierto
    Neuroprotective effects of the catalytic subunit of telomerase: a potential therapeutic target in the central nervous system
    (Elsevier Ireland Ltd, 2016) González-Giraldo, Y.; Forero, D.A.; Echeverria, V.; Gonzalez, J.; Ávila-Rodriguez, M.; Garcia-Segura, L.M.; Barreto, G.E.
    Senescence plays an important role in neurodegenerative diseases and involves key molecular changes induced by several mechanisms such as oxidative stress, telomere shortening and DNA damage. Potential therapeutic strategies directed to counteract these molecular changes are of great interest for the prevention of the neurodegenerative process. Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein composed of a catalytic subunit (TERT) and a RNA subunit (TERC). It is known that the telomerase is involved in the maintenance of telomere length and is a highly expressed protein in embryonic stages and decreases in adult cells. In the last decade, a growing number of studies have shown that TERT has neuroprotective effects in cellular and animal models after a brain injury. Significantly, differences in TERT expression between controls and patients with major depressive disorder have been observed. More recently, TERT has been associated with the decrease in reactive oxygen species and DNA protection in mitochondria of neurons. In this review, we highlight the role of TERT in some neurodegenerative disorders and discuss some studies focusing on this protein as a potential target for neuroprotective therapies. © 2016 Elsevier B.V.
  • Miniatura
    ÍtemAcceso Abierto
    SUR1 receptor interaction with hesperidin and linarin predicts possible mechanisms of action of Valeriana officinalis in Parkinson
    (Frontiers Research Foundation, 2016) Santos, G.; Giraldez-Alvarez, L.D.; Ávila-Rodriguez, M.; Capani, F.; Galembeck, E.; Neto, A.G.; Barreto, G.E.; Andrade, B.
    Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders. A theoretical approach of our previous experiments reporting the cytoprotective effects of the Valeriana officinalis compounds extract for PD is suggested. In addiction to considering the PD as a result of mitochondrial metabolic imbalance and oxidative stress, such as in our previous in vitro model of rotenone, in the present manuscript we added a genomic approach to evaluate the possible underlying mechanisms of the effect of the plant extract. Microarray of substantia nigra (SN) genome obtained from Allen Brain Institute was analyzed using gene set enrichment analysis to build a network of hub genes implicated in PD. Proteins transcribed from hub genes and their ligands selected by search ensemble approach algorithm were subjected to molecular docking studies, as well as 20 ns Molecular Dynamics (MD) using a Molecular Mechanic Poison/Boltzman Surface Area (MMPBSA) protocol. Our results bring a new approach to Valeriana officinalis extract, and suggest that hesperidin, and probably linarin are able to relieve effects of oxidative stress during ATP depletion due to its ability to binding SUR1. In addition, the key role of valerenic acid and apigenin is possibly related to prevent cortical hyperexcitation by inducing neuronal cells from SN to release GABA on brain stem. Thus, under hyperexcitability, oxidative stress, asphyxia and/or ATP depletion, Valeriana officinalis may trigger different mechanisms to provide neuronal cell protection. © 2016 Santos, Giraldez-Alvarez, ávila-Rodriguez, Capani, Galembeck, Neto, Barreto and Andrade.