S-Adenosylmethionine Prevents Oxidative Stress and Modulates Glutathione Metabolism in TgCRND8 Mice Fed a B-Vitamin Deficient Diet

Article type: Short Communication

Authors: Cavallaro, Rosaria A.^a | Fuso, Andrea^{a; b} | Nicolia, Vincenzina^{a; b} | Scarpa, Sigfrido^{a; b; *}

Affiliations: [a] Department of Surgery “Pietro Valdoni”, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy | [b] Center for Research in Neurobiology “Daniel Bovet”, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy

Correspondence: [*] Correspondence to: Sigfrido Scarpa, Via A. Scarpa, 14, 00161 Roma, Italy. Tel.: +39 0649766600; Fax: +39 0649766600; E-mail: [email protected].

Note: [] Handling Associate Editor: Othman Ghribi

Abstract: Oxidative stress, altered glutathione levels, and hyperhomocysteinemia play critical roles in Alzheimer's disease. We studied the relationships between hyperhomocysteinemia, glutathione, and oxidative stress in TgCRND8 mice maintained in conditions of folate, B12, and B6 deficiency and the effect of S-adenosylmethionine supplementation. We found that hyperhomocysteinemia was correlated with increased reduced/oxidized brain glutathione ratio, with decreased glutathione S-transferase activity and increased lipid peroxidation. S-adenosylmethionine potentiated superoxide dismutase and glutathione S-transferase activity and restored altered brain glutathione and erythrocytes lipid peroxidation. These results underline the importance of S-adenosylmethionine as neuroprotective compound, acting both on methylation and oxidation metabolism.

Keywords: Amyloid-β, glutathione, homocysteine, oxidative stress, S-adenosylmethionine

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-2010-091666

Journal: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 20, no. 4, pp. 997-1002, 2010