Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba.
J Biosci. 2021;46.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative condition provoking the loss of cognitive and memory performances. Despite huge efforts to develop effective AD therapies, there is still no cure for this neurological condition. Here, we review the main biological properties of Phycocyanobilin (PCB), accounting for its potential uses against AD. PCB, given individually or released in vivo from C-Phycocyanin (C-PC), acts as a bioactive-molecule-mediating antioxidant, is anti-inflammatory and has immunomodulatory activities. PCB/C-PC are able to scavenge reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, to counteract lipid peroxidation and to inhibit enzymes such as NADPH oxidase and COX-2. In animal models of multiple sclerosis and ischemic stroke, these compounds induce remyelination as demonstrated by electron microscopy and the expression of genes such as up-regulation of and down-regulation. These treatments also reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines levels and induce immune suppressive genes. PCB/C-PC protects isolated rat brain mitochondria and inactivate microglia, astrocytes and neuronal apoptosis mediators. Such processes are all involved in the pathogenic cascade of AD, and thus PCB may effectively mitigate the injury in this condition. Furthermore, PCB can be administered safely by oral or parenteral routes and therefore, could be commercially offered as a nutraceutical supplement or as a pharmaceutical drug.
阿尔茨海默病（AD）是一种破坏性的神经退行性疾病，可导致认知和记忆功能的丧失。尽管人们努力开发有效的 AD 治疗方法，但这种神经疾病仍然没有治愈方法。在这里，我们回顾了藻蓝蛋白（PCB）的主要生物学特性，说明其在对抗 AD 方面的潜在用途。PCB 单独使用或从 C-藻蓝蛋白（C-PC）体内释放时，可作为一种具有生物活性的分子介导抗氧化剂，具有抗炎和免疫调节作用。PCB/C-PC 能够清除活性氧和氮物种，抵抗脂质过氧化，并抑制 NADPH 氧化酶和 COX-2 等酶。在多发性硬化症和缺血性中风的动物模型中，这些化合物通过电子显微镜和基因表达如上调和下调来诱导髓鞘再生。这些治疗方法还降低了促炎细胞因子的水平，并诱导了免疫抑制基因。PCB/C-PC 可保护分离的大鼠脑线粒体并使小胶质细胞、星形胶质细胞和神经元凋亡介质失活。这些过程都与 AD 的发病机制有关，因此 PCB 可能有效减轻该疾病的损伤。此外，PCB 可以通过口服或肠胃外途径安全给药，因此可以作为营养保健品或药物进行商业推广。
