A new class of neuroprotectors
A group of molecules protecting the brain from stroke and Parkinson's disease has been discovered
Anna Kerman, XX2 century, based on the materials of Medical Xpress: New class of molecules may protect brain from stroke, neurodegenerative diseases
A group of scientists led by Dr. Nicolas Bazan, director of the Neuroscience Center of Excellence at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans), discovered a new group of molecules involved in communication between brain cells. These molecules are involved in the development of immune responses in response to injury or disease.
Elovanoids (elovanoids, ELVs) are biologically active compounds synthesized from long–chain polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids. Elovanoids are released when cells are damaged or under cellular stress.
"We knew before that molecules derived from omega-3 fatty acids can act as information carriers. This is how neuroprotectin D1 works, for example. But there are only 22 carbon atoms in its molecule, while there are 32-34 in the molecules of elovanoids," says Dr. Bazan. "We hoped that [studying] these compounds would help us learn more about the intercellular interaction aimed at restoring neural pathways and especially at normalizing cellular balance after strokes."
The researchers worked both with cultures of nerve cells of the cerebral cortex and with a model of ischemic stroke. After analyzing the collected data, scientists came to the conclusion that elovanoids not only protect nerve cells and help them survive, but also contribute to maintaining the stability and connectivity of the brain as a whole. The results of the work are published in the publication Science Advances (Bhattacharjee et al., Elovanoids are a novel class of homeostatic lipid mediators that protect neural cell integrity upon injury).
"Our findings have helped to better understand how the brain – a complex and flexible organ – remains functional when faced with stroke, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease or other pathologies. It is then that there is a need to activate the neuroprotective signaling system," says Dr. Bazan. – The molecules we discovered are involved in the transmission of messages of the synaptic network as a whole. This is necessary in order to maintain the correct transmission of information through neural channels. Elovanoids can play a key role in the organization of synapses. The latter is especially important in conditions resulting from a violation of synaptic connections, for example, in autism or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), diseases for which there are no medicines today."
It was not previously known that long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in the body turn into substances that contribute to the recovery of the brain after injuries and eliminate interference in the normal functioning of neurons and their communication with each other.
The researchers described the structure and properties of two elovanoids: ELV-N32 and ELV-N34. To work, the scientists first used cell culture, and then an experimental model of stroke in experimental animals. At the same time, the researchers found that elovanoids are activated either when the cell is faced with a deficiency of glucose or oxygen, or as a result of excitotoxicity. The latter is associated with stroke, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, traumatic brain injuries and neurodegenerative diseases.
During the experiments, the researchers determined the concentrations at which the elovanoids provided a neuroprotective effect, and the "therapeutic window" of the elovanoids. The work has demonstrated that these compounds help to overcome the destructive effects of the diseases mentioned above. When the experimental animals had a stroke, the elovanoids reduced the size of the damaged area of the brain, triggered recovery mechanisms and made rehabilitation more effective.
According to the authors, the study provided a lot of valuable information about the survival of neurons and the functioning of the brain, especially in the context of ischemic stroke. "In the near future, we hope to apply this knowledge to the prevention of chronic traumatic encephalopathies, strokes and neurodegenerative diseases. Elovanoids should be considered as a potential new drug that requires additional study."
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29.09.2017