Post‐inflammatory administration of N‐acetylcysteine reduces inflammation and alters receptor levels in a cellular model of Parkinson's disease

Abstract Parkinson's disease (PD) is a complex, multifactorial neurodegenerative disease with a prevalence of 1% over the age of 55. Neuropathological hallmarks of PD include the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta and the accumulation of Lewy bodies that contain...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Zeynep Bengisu Kaya, Elif Karakoc, Pamela J. McLean, Esen Saka, Pergin Atilla
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2023-07-01
Series:FASEB BioAdvances
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1096/fba.2022-00145
_version_ 1797787003283046400
author Zeynep Bengisu Kaya
Elif Karakoc
Pamela J. McLean
Esen Saka
Pergin Atilla
author_facet Zeynep Bengisu Kaya
Elif Karakoc
Pamela J. McLean
Esen Saka
Pergin Atilla
author_sort Zeynep Bengisu Kaya
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Parkinson's disease (PD) is a complex, multifactorial neurodegenerative disease with a prevalence of 1% over the age of 55. Neuropathological hallmarks of PD include the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta and the accumulation of Lewy bodies that contain a variety of proteins and lipids including alpha‐synuclein (α‐syn). Although the formation of α‐syn occurs intracellularly, it can also be found in the extracellular space where it can be taken up by neighboring cells. Toll‐like receptor 2 (TLR2) is an immune system receptor that has been shown to recognize extracellular α‐syn and modulate its uptake by other cells. Lymphocyte‐activation gene 3 (LAG3), an immune checkpoint receptor, has also been proposed to play a role in extracellular α‐syn internalization; however, a recent study has disputed this role. Internalized α‐syn can trigger expression and secretion of inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α), interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐2, and IL‐6 and induce neuroinflammation, apoptosis, and mitophagy that results in cellular death. In this study, we tested if N‐acetylcysteine (NAC), an anti‐inflammatory and anti‐carcinogenic drug, can circumvent the detrimental effects of neuroinflammation and induce an anti‐inflammatory response by modulating transcription and expression of TLR2 and LAG3 receptors. Cells overexpressing wild‐type α‐syn were treated with TNF‐α to induce inflammation followed by NAC to inhibit the deleterious effects of TNF‐α‐induced inflammation and apoptosis. SNCA gene transcription and α‐syn protein expression were validated by q‐PCR and Western blot (WB), respectively. Cell viability was measured, and apoptosis was evaluated by WB and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase nick end labeling methods. Alterations in LAG3 and TLR2 receptor levels were evaluated by immunofluorescent labeling, WB, and q‐PCR. TNF‐α not only increased inflammation but also increased endogenous and overexpressed α‐syn levels. NAC treatment decreased expression of TLR2 and increased transcription of LAG3 receptor and diminished inflammation‐mediated toxicity and cell death. Here, we demonstrate that NAC can reduce neuroinflammation that occurs as a result of alpha‐synuclein overexpression, via a TLR2‐associated pathway, making it a promising candidate for therapeutic intervention. Further studies are needed to elucidate molecular mechanisms and pathways related to neuroinflammation in PD and to develop possible new therapeutic approaches to slow the clinical progression of PD.
first_indexed 2024-03-13T01:15:49Z
format Article
id doaj.art-a5823538e45146a2a43cf94639a413c7
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2573-9832
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-13T01:15:49Z
publishDate 2023-07-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series FASEB BioAdvances
spelling doaj.art-a5823538e45146a2a43cf94639a413c72023-07-05T10:51:44ZengWileyFASEB BioAdvances2573-98322023-07-015726327610.1096/fba.2022-00145Post‐inflammatory administration of N‐acetylcysteine reduces inflammation and alters receptor levels in a cellular model of Parkinson's diseaseZeynep Bengisu Kaya0Elif Karakoc1Pamela J. McLean2Esen Saka3Pergin Atilla4Department of Neuroscience Mayo Clinic Jacksonville Florida USADepartment of Histology and Embryology Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine Ankara TurkeyDepartment of Neuroscience Mayo Clinic Jacksonville Florida USADepartment of Neurology Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine Ankara TurkeyDepartment of Histology and Embryology Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine Ankara TurkeyAbstract Parkinson's disease (PD) is a complex, multifactorial neurodegenerative disease with a prevalence of 1% over the age of 55. Neuropathological hallmarks of PD include the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta and the accumulation of Lewy bodies that contain a variety of proteins and lipids including alpha‐synuclein (α‐syn). Although the formation of α‐syn occurs intracellularly, it can also be found in the extracellular space where it can be taken up by neighboring cells. Toll‐like receptor 2 (TLR2) is an immune system receptor that has been shown to recognize extracellular α‐syn and modulate its uptake by other cells. Lymphocyte‐activation gene 3 (LAG3), an immune checkpoint receptor, has also been proposed to play a role in extracellular α‐syn internalization; however, a recent study has disputed this role. Internalized α‐syn can trigger expression and secretion of inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α), interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐2, and IL‐6 and induce neuroinflammation, apoptosis, and mitophagy that results in cellular death. In this study, we tested if N‐acetylcysteine (NAC), an anti‐inflammatory and anti‐carcinogenic drug, can circumvent the detrimental effects of neuroinflammation and induce an anti‐inflammatory response by modulating transcription and expression of TLR2 and LAG3 receptors. Cells overexpressing wild‐type α‐syn were treated with TNF‐α to induce inflammation followed by NAC to inhibit the deleterious effects of TNF‐α‐induced inflammation and apoptosis. SNCA gene transcription and α‐syn protein expression were validated by q‐PCR and Western blot (WB), respectively. Cell viability was measured, and apoptosis was evaluated by WB and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase nick end labeling methods. Alterations in LAG3 and TLR2 receptor levels were evaluated by immunofluorescent labeling, WB, and q‐PCR. TNF‐α not only increased inflammation but also increased endogenous and overexpressed α‐syn levels. NAC treatment decreased expression of TLR2 and increased transcription of LAG3 receptor and diminished inflammation‐mediated toxicity and cell death. Here, we demonstrate that NAC can reduce neuroinflammation that occurs as a result of alpha‐synuclein overexpression, via a TLR2‐associated pathway, making it a promising candidate for therapeutic intervention. Further studies are needed to elucidate molecular mechanisms and pathways related to neuroinflammation in PD and to develop possible new therapeutic approaches to slow the clinical progression of PD.https://doi.org/10.1096/fba.2022-00145alpha‐synuclein (α‐syn)apoptosisN‐acetylcysteine (NAC)neuroinflammationParkinson's disease
spellingShingle Zeynep Bengisu Kaya
Elif Karakoc
Pamela J. McLean
Esen Saka
Pergin Atilla
Post‐inflammatory administration of N‐acetylcysteine reduces inflammation and alters receptor levels in a cellular model of Parkinson's disease
FASEB BioAdvances
alpha‐synuclein (α‐syn)
apoptosis
N‐acetylcysteine (NAC)
neuroinflammation
Parkinson's disease
title Post‐inflammatory administration of N‐acetylcysteine reduces inflammation and alters receptor levels in a cellular model of Parkinson's disease
title_full Post‐inflammatory administration of N‐acetylcysteine reduces inflammation and alters receptor levels in a cellular model of Parkinson's disease
title_fullStr Post‐inflammatory administration of N‐acetylcysteine reduces inflammation and alters receptor levels in a cellular model of Parkinson's disease
title_full_unstemmed Post‐inflammatory administration of N‐acetylcysteine reduces inflammation and alters receptor levels in a cellular model of Parkinson's disease
title_short Post‐inflammatory administration of N‐acetylcysteine reduces inflammation and alters receptor levels in a cellular model of Parkinson's disease
title_sort post inflammatory administration of n acetylcysteine reduces inflammation and alters receptor levels in a cellular model of parkinson s disease
topic alpha‐synuclein (α‐syn)
apoptosis
N‐acetylcysteine (NAC)
neuroinflammation
Parkinson's disease
url https://doi.org/10.1096/fba.2022-00145
work_keys_str_mv AT zeynepbengisukaya postinflammatoryadministrationofnacetylcysteinereducesinflammationandaltersreceptorlevelsinacellularmodelofparkinsonsdisease
AT elifkarakoc postinflammatoryadministrationofnacetylcysteinereducesinflammationandaltersreceptorlevelsinacellularmodelofparkinsonsdisease
AT pamelajmclean postinflammatoryadministrationofnacetylcysteinereducesinflammationandaltersreceptorlevelsinacellularmodelofparkinsonsdisease
AT esensaka postinflammatoryadministrationofnacetylcysteinereducesinflammationandaltersreceptorlevelsinacellularmodelofparkinsonsdisease
AT perginatilla postinflammatoryadministrationofnacetylcysteinereducesinflammationandaltersreceptorlevelsinacellularmodelofparkinsonsdisease