ABSTRACT
Parkinson's disease (PD) is second-most common disabling neurological disorder worldwide, and unfortunately, there is not yet a definitive way to prevent it. Polyphenols have been widely shown protective efficacy against various PD symptoms. However, data on their effect on physio-pathological mechanisms underlying this disease are still lacking. In the present work, we evaluated the activity of a mixture of polyphenols and micronutrients, named A5+, in the murine neuroblastoma cell line N1E115 treated with 6-Hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), an established neurotoxic stimulus used to induce an in vitro PD model. We demonstrate that a pretreatment of these cells with A5+ causes significant reduction of inflammation, resulting in a decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-6, TNF-α, and CXCL1), a reduction in ROS production and activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK)1/2, and a decrease in apoptotic mechanisms with the related increase in cell viability. Intriguingly, A5+ treatment promoted cellular differentiation into dopaminergic neurons, as evident by the enhancement in the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase, a well-established dopaminergic neuronal marker. Overall, these results demonstrate the synergic and innovative efficacy of A5+ mixture against PD cellular pathological processes, although further studies are needed to clarify the mechanisms underlying its beneficial effect.
Subject(s)
Parkinson Disease , Animals , Disease Models, Animal , Dopaminergic Neurons/metabolism , Mice , Micronutrients/metabolism , Micronutrients/pharmacology , Micronutrients/therapeutic use , Oxidopamine/pharmacology , Parkinson Disease/drug therapy , Parkinson Disease/etiology , Parkinson Disease/metabolism , Polyphenols/metabolism , Polyphenols/pharmacology , Polyphenols/therapeutic useABSTRACT
Background: COVID-19 outbreak profoundly affected health systems and people's daily life worldwide. Parkinson's disease (PD) patients lost their normal routine and interrupted regular physical activity, either as physiotherapy or sport, with inevitable consequence on their daily-life and well-being. Objectives: To evaluate the changes in physical activity due to COVID-19 emergency, including self-management strategies or technology-assisted activities, and the subsequent clinical implications in PD patients. Methods: Seventy-four patients from an Italian center have been remotely examined during the lockdown (April-May 2020) by an e-mail structured survey, including self-administered scales. We collected and analyzed data on changes, modalities and amount of physical active practice, on the use of technology-based tools, and on self-perceived clinical condition. Results: Sixty percent of patients reported a significant worsening of their general conditions during the lockdown, the reduction of physical activity being the main risk factor for such change. However, patients found ways to practice physical activity, using satisfactorily technology assistance in 50% of cases (mostly women). Conclusions: The COVID-19 emergency has been an ordeal for PD patients. Nevertheless, patients adapted their habits to continue practicing physical activity that resulted a main determinant of their well-being; as well, they successfully approached technology-based assistance. Education, communication, and networking emerge as critical for a constructive reaction to the emergency's challenges.