Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology
Author: Hernán Ezequiel Hauché Pedernera | Email: hernanhauche@gmail.com
Hernán E. Hauché P.1°, Gisela Decurgez1°, Lorena Tschopp1°, Pedro Ballestero1°2°, Melina P. Bordone1°, Juan Ferrario1°
1° Instituto de Biociencias, Biotecnología y Biología traslacional (iB3), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (FCEN UBA), CABA, Argentina.
2° Instituto de Investigación en Biomedicina de Buenos Aires (IBioBA – MSPS), CABA, Argentina.
Neuroprotection is one of the key challenges in neurodegenerative disorders, therefore, understanding their mechanisms may help to develop strategies to delay the process. The identification of neuroprotective compounds enormously helps to reach this goal. Previously we have demonstrated that Yerba Mate (YM) enhances the survival of dopaminergic neurons in primary mesencephalic cultures, similar to green tea and coffee.These beverages have been negatively linked with the development of Parkinson’s disease (PD). They share several active compounds, remarkably polyphenols, such as chlorogenic acid (CGA). To investigate whether YM regulates intracellular mechanisms related to the growth and survival of dopaminergic neurons, we focused on AMPK, a key signaling molecule involved in cell metabolism including neuroprotection via stimulation of autophagy. Using the simplified model of the SH-SY5Y cell line, we tested the phosphorylation status of AMPK at different concentrations with an extract of YM and CGA. We have found that YM and CGA regulate AMPK phosphorylation. Additionally, we will share preliminary results regarding the activation of autophagy by YM, analyzed by immunofluorescence and WB against LC3. Further work is still necessary to fulfill our hypothesis, but current results settle down the first steps towards understanding how YM and CGA may modulate neuronal health potentially impacting the progression of neurodegenerative pathologies such as PD.