Effect of lithium on the telomeric length in cortical and hippocampal neurons treated with beta amyloid

• Grant number: 17/14418-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2017
• End date: October 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Psychiatry
• Principal Investigator: Orestes Vicente Forlenza
• Grantee: Rafael Martins Themoteo
• Host Institution: Instituto de Psiquiatria Doutor Antonio Carlos Pacheco e Silva (IPq). Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da USP (HCFMUSP). Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by ²-amyloid (²A) and hyperphosphorilated Tau protein deposition in the nervous tissue, which compromises cognitive functions, with repercussions over cognition and behavior. One of the physiopathological hypothesis to explain this injury involves the increase in the oxidative stress and in the following decrease of telomere length. Telomeres are considered a "biological clock" of cells in this tissue, and its shortening associates with precocious senescence of both neuron and glial cells. Positive evidences in the use of lithium in the AD treatment have been shown by various studies. It is believed that various cell paths are modified by this metal. Among them, one which is responsible for decreasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, leading to a possible path to reduce oxidative stress over cells, and, therefore, maintaining their physiologic functions. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

ROCHA, NICOLE KEMBERLY R.; THEMOTEO, RAFAEL; BRENTANI, HELENA; FORLENZA, ORESTES V.; DE PAULA, VANESSA DE JESUS RODRIGUES. Neuronal-Glial Interaction in a Triple-Transgenic Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease: Gene Ontology and Lithium Pathways. FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE, v. 14, DEC 1 2020. (17/14418-8, 11/19892-3, 16/01302-9, 09/52825-8, 18/08621-8, 14/50873-3)