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Aging and Oxidative Stress in Nervous System

A special issue of Current Issues in Molecular Biology (ISSN 1467-3045). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 3582

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Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, Legal and Forensic Medicine, University of Zaragoza. Calle Domingo Miral s/n, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Interests: aging and oxidative stress
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Currently, aging is considered to be a phenomenon with multifactorial causes. Therefore, a vast proliferation of theories and classifications have been proposed to explain the aging process. The most accepted hypothesis of aging is that of oxidative stress, which states that reactive oxygen species (ROS), produced via cellular aerobic metabolism, causes progressive oxidative damage throughout the cell, inducing its degeneration and death. In aerobic cells, mitochondria are the main source of ROS, which act mainly on the closest macromolecules such as the lipids of the mitochondrial membrane, the proteins of their enzymatic systems and, especially, the mitochondrial DNA. The lipids of cell membranes are biomolecules that are highly susceptible to being attacked by free radicals.

The nervous system is highly susceptible to oxidative stress and aging due to its rich chemical composition of polyunsaturated fatty acids, its high metabolic rate and a deficient antioxidant system. This involves a progressive loss of motor, sensory and cognitive functions, which is considered to happen because of the degenerative changes that occur with age. On the other hand, many pathologies of the nervous system occur more frequently as age progresses. The changes that are induced by aging and the associated oxidative stress in neurons and glial cells, as well as in the neurotransmission and in the central, peripheral and enteric nervous system, are of great interest, since they allow us to understand a universal phenomenon that affects all living things. Therefore, all levels of analysis are important, from the molecular and cellular levels to the tissue level, as are possible strategies, such as antioxidant molecules, to counteract it.

Dr. Laura Lõpez-Pingarrõn
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • oxidative stress
  • aging
  • central nervous system
  • antioxidant
  • enteric nervous system

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 867 KiB  
Article
Association between Skin Carotenoid Levels and Cognitive Impairment Screened by Mini-Cog in Patients with Glaucoma
by Yuji Takayanagi, Yoichi Kadoh, Junichi Sasaki, Akira Obana and Masaki Tanito
Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2024, 46(7), 6940-6950; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb46070413 - 3 Jul 2024
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Abstract
Carotenoids, having strong antioxidant properties, have been associated with neurodegenerative conditions like dementia and glaucoma, characterized by neuronal loss leading to cognitive and visual dysfunction. Therefore, carotenoids have attracted attention as factors predictive of the onset and progression of these neurodegenerative diseases. However, [...] Read more.
Carotenoids, having strong antioxidant properties, have been associated with neurodegenerative conditions like dementia and glaucoma, characterized by neuronal loss leading to cognitive and visual dysfunction. Therefore, carotenoids have attracted attention as factors predictive of the onset and progression of these neurodegenerative diseases. However, the impact of carotenoids on cognitive impairment and glaucomatous visual field defects remains unexplored. We conducted a retrospective, observational clinical study to investigate the association between skin carotenoid (SC) levels and cognitive impairment, as screened by the Mini-Cog test, in glaucoma patients. The study included 406 participants and 812 eyes were examined (average age: 69.7 ± 11.4 years; 228 men, 178 women) with various types of glaucoma: primary open angle (57.6%), exfoliation (18.6%), and other types (23.8%). SC levels were estimated via pressure-mediated reflection spectroscopy. Mixed-effects regression models were utilized to examine the relationship between SC levels, visual field defects, and Mini-Cog results. Of the participants, 28 (6.9%) tested positive on the Mini-Cog, suggesting cognitive impairment. The average SC level in the Mini-Cog positive group was significantly lower than in the negative group (269.5 ± 86.4 A.U. vs. 329.2 ± 120.4 A.U., respectively; p = 0.01). Additionally, the visual field mean deviation (MD) in the Mini-Cog positive group was notably worse than that in the negative group (−19.64 ± 9.07 dB vs. −12.46 ± 9.28 dB, respectively; p < 0.0001). The mixed-effects regression analysis revealed a significant association between Mini-Cog positivity and lower SC levels (p = 0.0006), although SC levels did not significantly correlate with MD (p = 0.3). Our findings suggest that cognitive impairment in glaucoma patients is associated with lower SC levels, underscoring the potential benefits of maintaining carotenoid levels to slow cognitive function decline. The protective role of carotenoids in glaucoma merits further investigation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aging and Oxidative Stress in Nervous System)
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Review

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18 pages, 1306 KiB  
Review
Bridging the Gap: Harnessing Plant Bioactive Molecules to Target Gut Microbiome Dysfunctions in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
by Mirela Pribac, Anca Motataianu, Sebastian Andone, Elena Mardale and Sebastian Nemeth
Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2024, 46(5), 4471-4488; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb46050271 - 8 May 2024
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Abstract
The correlation between neurodegenerative diseases and the gut microbiome is increasingly evident, with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) being particularly notable for its severity and lack of therapeutic options. The gut microbiota, implicated in the pathogenesis and development of ALS, plays a crucial role [...] Read more.
The correlation between neurodegenerative diseases and the gut microbiome is increasingly evident, with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) being particularly notable for its severity and lack of therapeutic options. The gut microbiota, implicated in the pathogenesis and development of ALS, plays a crucial role in the disease. Bioactive plant molecules, specifically volatile compounds in essential oils, offer a promising therapeutic avenue due to their anti-inflammatory properties and gut-modulating effects. Our narrative review aimed to identify microbiota-associated bacteria in ALS and analyze the benefits of administering bioactive plant molecules as much-needed therapeutic options in the management of this disease. A comprehensive search of PubMed database articles published before December 2023, encompassing research on cell, human, and animal ALS models, was conducted. After selecting, analyzing, and discussing key articles, bacteria linked to ALS pathogenesis and physiopathology were identified. Notably, positively highlighted bacteria included Akkermansia muciniphila (Verrucomicrobia phylum), Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, and Butyrivibrio spp. (Firmicutes phylum). Conversely, members of the Escherichia coli spp. (Proteobacteria phylum) and Ruminococcus spp. (Firmicutes phylum) stood out negatively in respect to ALS development. These bacteria were associated with molecular changes linked to ALS pathogenesis and evolution. Bioactive plant molecules can be directly associated with improvements in the microbiome, due to their role in reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, emerging as one of the most promising natural agents for enriching present-day ALS treatments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aging and Oxidative Stress in Nervous System)
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