Propiedades neuroprotectoras de componentes de la jalea real en la enfermedad de ParkinsonPapel de la autofagia

Resumen

Neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson´s disease (PD) or Alzheimer´s dissease (AD) represent a group of very common illnessess that make a great impact worldwide. These disorders have a multifactorial origin where a mixture of genetic and environmental factors are involved. There is a few avalaible information about exact mechanisms related to pathophysiology, ethiology or the complexity of these diseases. In this sense, identification and research of risk factors result insufficient to establish full knowledge and control of them. Although there is no clear evidence related to PD nor AD onset and progression, growing evidence supports the idea that interaction between mechanisms that affect antioxidant machinery and degradation and detox cell system (autophagy and the ubiquitin-proteosome system), besides its deregulation, are closely related to PD and long-term neuronal loss. PD is the second more prevalent neurodegenerative disease in people aged over 60 years. The most pathological hallmark of this disease is the accumulation of α-synuclein aggregates. To date, there is no effective treatment, therefore, is critical to find therapies that can effectively treat PD onset and progression. On the other hand, food habits are one of the main factors that contribute to general health status in humans, so we truly consider that empowering research focused on characterizing biological activity of natural compounds (especially those available in certain meals, such as royal jelly), would surely contribute to design preventive stragies and promote a healthier aging. Besides, these compounds are usually less harmful than drugs and, because of that, they are more prone to be included in a balanced diet. In the last years, there are several in vitro and in vivo studies that elucidates the role of several natural compounds, that may be included in a diet, in the prevention of neuronal harm in neurodegenerative diseases. Although it is not clear the exact mechanisms involved in neuroprotection associated with these compounds, their ability to induce autophagy to promote clearance of toxic aggregates has been suggested as a possible explanation to their neuroprotective role. Because of that, in this doctoral thesis we study the ability of inducing autophagy as well as the neuroprotective effect of two components avalaible in lipid fraction of royal jelly (10-hydroxy-trans-2-decenoci and 10-hydroxydecanoic).