ePoster

Characterisation of the neuroprotective effects of the new metabotropic glutamate receptor 3 positive allosteric modulator against dopaminergic degeneration in Parkinson’s disease models

Giulia Urone, Monica Frinchi, Miriana Scordino, Giuseppe Savona, Alessandra Montalbano, Marilia Barreca, Virginia Spanò, Paola Barraja, Giuseppa Mudò, Valentina Di Liberto
FENS Forum 2024(2024)
Messe Wien Exhibition & Congress Center, Vienna, Austria

Conference

FENS Forum 2024

Messe Wien Exhibition & Congress Center, Vienna, Austria

Resources

Authors & Affiliations

Giulia Urone, Monica Frinchi, Miriana Scordino, Giuseppe Savona, Alessandra Montalbano, Marilia Barreca, Virginia Spanò, Paola Barraja, Giuseppa Mudò, Valentina Di Liberto

Abstract

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the nigrostriatal circuit, and the development of motor and non-motor symptoms. Currently, no disease-modifying pharmacological treatments are available, and dopamine-based therapies help to mitigate symptoms but also cause side-effects. In this context, indirect evidence has suggested that activation of metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 3 (mGluR3) exerts neuroprotective effects in animal models of PD. However, the lack of selective agonists/ligands for this receptor has hindered more in-depth investigations. Recently, a new Positive Allosteric Modulator (PAM) selective for mGluR3 has been synthesized. In this study, we demonstrated through MTT assay that the novel mGluR3 PAM protects SH-SY5Y cells, a human neuroblastoma cell line, against death induced by 6-hydroxydopamine, a drug widely used to induce dopaminergic degeneration. The observed neuroprotection involves the modulation of mitogen-activated protein kinases/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt pathways, as assessed through western blotting analysis. Furthermore, western blot assay shows that in vivo treatment with mGluR3 PAM up-regulates the expression of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and modulates the activation of MAPK/ERK and PI3K-Akt pathways in mouse brain. Overall, though preliminary, our results suggest the therapeutic potential of the new mGluR3 PAM in the management of PD.

Unique ID: fens-24/characterisation-neuroprotective-effects-d7d1f829