Evaluation of the neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effect of caffeine in a murine model of LPS-induced neuroinflammation

• Grant number: 20/13436-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2021
• End date: December 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Molecular Biology
• Principal Investigator: Rodrigo Augusto da Silva
• Grantee: Paula Lemes dos Santos Sanna
• Host Institution: Pró-Reitoria de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação. Universidade de Taubaté (UNITAU). Taubaté , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Caffeine is a natural alkaloid with the most consumed psychoactive property in the world that is present in several drinks and foods. Due to its hydrophobic properties, caffeine is quickly distributed throughout the body and can cross all biological membranes including the Blood-brain Barrier (BBB). This biochemical characteristic guarantees the observed psychostimulant effects, which are produced preferentially by the antagonistic action of Adenosine Receptors (ARs). Thus, it is a common consensus that the beneficial effects of caffeine consumption are predominantly due to the action on ARs. Although caffeine exerts its action predominantly through non-selective antagonism of brain adenosine receptors, numerous studies have demonstrated its potential as an epigenetic modulating agent by increasing the gene expression of enzymes involved in DNA methylation. However, information about the effect of caffeine on the epigenetic control of genes encoding adenosine receptors is limited. Thus, this proposal aims to investigate the molecular mechanisms involved in the neuroprotective effect of caffeine pretreatment (6 mg / kg) mainly related to the transcriptional control of ADORA 1 and ADORA2A genes mediated by DNA methylation 24 h after induction of neuroinflammation by intraperitoneal (ip) administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

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)

CARVALHO, LIEBERT BERNARDES; SANNA, PAULA LEMES DOS SANTOS; AFONSO, CAMILA CRISTINA DOS SANTOS; BONDAN, EDUARDO F.; FELTRAN, GERGIA DA SILVA; FERREIRA, MARCEL RODRIGUES; BIRBRAIR, ALEXANDER; ANDIA, DENISE CARLETO; LATINI, ALEXANDRA; DA SILVA, RODRIGO A. FOGANHOLI. MicroRNA biogenesis machinery activation and lncRNA and REST overexpression as neuroprotective responses to fight inflammation in the hippocampus. Journal of Neuroimmunology, v. 382, p. 13-pg., 2023-07-21. (21/06164-1, 20/13436-5)