Examinando por Autor "Echeverria, V."

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
    Testosterone protects mitochondrial function and regulates neuroglobin expression in astrocytic cells exposed to glucose deprivation
    (Frontiers Research Foundation, 2016) Toro-Urrego, N.; Garcia-Segura, L.M.; Echeverria, V.; Barreto, G.E.
    Testosterone is a hormone that has been shown to confer neuroprotection from different insults affecting the central nervous system (CNS). Testosterone induces this protection by different mechanisms that include the activation of anti-apoptotic pathways that are directly implicated in neuronal survival. However, little attention has been devoted to its actions on glial cells. In the present study, we have assessed whether testosterone exerts protection in a human astrocyte cell model, the T98G cells. Our results indicate that testosterone improves cell survival and mitochondrial membrane potential and reduces nuclear fragmentation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. These effects were accompanied by a positive regulation of neuroglobin, an oxygen-binding and sensor protein, which may serve as a regulator of ROS and nitrogen reactive species (NOS), and these protective effects of testosterone may be at least in part mediated by estradiol and DHT. In conclusion, these findings suggest that astroglia may mediate some of the protective actions of testosterone in the brain upon pathological conditions. © 2016 Toro-Urrego, Garcia-Segura, Echeverria and Barreto.