Cellular stress response, sirtuins and UCP proteins in Alzheimer disease: role of vitagenes
Immunity & Ageing 2013, 10:41
doi:10.1186/1742-4933-10-41
Published: 17 October 2013
Published: 17 October 2013
Abstract
Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder affecting up to one third
of individuals reaching the age of 80. Different integrated responses exist in the
brain to detect oxidative stress which is controlled by several genes termed Vitagenes. Vitagenes encode for cytoprotective heat shock proteins (Hsp), as well as thioredoxin,
sirtuins and uncouple proteins (UCPs). In the present study we evaluate stress response
mechanisms in plasma and lymphocytes of AD patients, as compared to controls, in order
to provide evidence of an imbalance of oxidant/antioxidant mechanisms and oxidative
damage in AD patients and the possible protective role of vitagenes.
We found that the levels of Sirt-1 and Sirt-2 in AD lymphocytes were significantly
higher than in control subjects. Interestingly, analysis of plasma showed in AD patients
increased expression of Trx, a finding associated with reduced expression of UCP1,
as compared to control group.
This finding can open up new neuroprotective strategies, as molecules inducing this
defense mechanisms can represent a therapeutic target to minimize the deleterious
consequences associated to oxidative stress, such as in brain aging and neurodegenerative
disorders.