Role of Microglia in Regulating Cholesterol and Tau Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease.

Cholesterol, a principal constituent of the cell membrane, plays a crucial role in the brain by regulating the synaptic transmission, neuronal signaling, as well as neurodegenerative diseases. Defects in the cholesterol trafficking are associated with enhanced generation of hyperphosphorylated Tau and Amyloid-ß protein. Tau, a major microtubule-associated protein in the brain, is the key regulator of the mature neuron. Abnormally hyperphosphorylated Tau hampers the major functions related to microtubule assembly by promoting neurofibrillary tangles of paired helical filaments, twisted ribbons, and straight filaments. The observed pathological changes due to impaired cholesterol and Tau protein accumulation cause Alzheimer's disease. Thus, in order to regulate the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease, regulation of cholesterol metabolism, as well as Tau phosphorylation, is essential. The current review provides an overview of (1) cholesterol synthesis in the brain, neurons, astrocytes, and microglia; (2) the mechanism involved in modulating cholesterol concentration between the astrocytes and brain; (3) major mechanisms involved in the hyperphosphorylation of Tau and amyloid-ß protein; and (4) microglial involvement in its regulation. Thus, the answering key questions will provide an in-depth information on microglia involvement in managing the pathogenesis of cholesterol-modulated hyperphosphorylated Tau protein.

Fluorescence Based Turn-on Probe for the Determination of Caffeine Using Europium-Tetracycline as Energy Transfer Complex.

The study describes a simple and sensitive fluorometric sensor based on the enhancement of fluorescence intensity of Europium ion (Eu(3+)) - tetracycline (TC) charge transfer complex on addition of caffeine. The Eu(3+)-TC ternary complex has a characteristic emission peak at 615 nm (λex = 375 nm), the intensity of which increases with increase in concentration of caffeine. The caffeine sensor assay was found to be linear in the range of 0.0515 mM to 51.5 mM. The limit of detection and quantification were found to be 0.0515 mM and 0.382 mM, respectively. A caffeine recovery of 90 to 110 % in biological samples (serum and urine) indicated minimal interference by commonly present excipients in the samples. Rosenthal plots to calculate the binding capacity of caffeine with the Eu(3+)- TC complex revealed an association constant (K) of 238 x 10(3) L/mol and binding number (N) of 1.9. Bland-Altman plot comparing the developed assay and HPLC showed good agreement between values obtained by both the methods. The proposed fluorescent chemical sensor is a rapid and convenient method to determine caffeine with excellent recovery and low detection limit. The probable reaction mechanism for the formation of the turn on fluorescent probe enhancer is discussed.

Response Surface Optimization for Decaffeination and Theophylline Production by Fusarium solani.

Coffee processing industries generate caffeine-containing waste that needs to be treated and decaffeinated before being disposed. Five fungal isolates obtained on caffeine-containing mineral media were tested for their ability to utilize caffeine at high concentrations. An isolate identified as Fusarium solani could utilize caffeine as a sole source of carbon and nitrogen up to 5 g/l and could degrade it to an extent of 30-53 % in 120 h. Sucrose that was added as an auxiliary substrate (5 g/l) enhanced the biodecaffeination of caffeine to 88 % in 96 h. The addition of co- substrate (sucrose) not only resulted in higher biodecaffeination efficiency, but also reduced the incubation period from the initial 120 to 96 h. Theophylline and 3-methyl xanthine were obtained as the major metabolites of decaffeination at 96 and 120 h, respectively. Response surface methodology used to optimize the process parameters for maximum biodecaffeination as well as theophylline production showed that a pH of 5.8, temperature of 24 °C and inoculum size of 4.8 × 10(5) spores/ml have resulted in a complete biodecaffeination of caffeine as well as the production of theophylline with a yield of 33 % (w/w). Results thus show that a viable and sustainable process can be developed for the detoxification of caffeine along with the recovery of theophylline, a commercially important chemical.