Efeito da exposição de nanopartículas de luteína sobre o modelo experimental tipo doença de parkinson em Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

Parkinson ́s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease in people over 60 years old. It is known that oxidative stress, inhibition in the activity of the complex I of the electron transport chain and neurons loss in the substantia nigra play a crucial role in PD. Rotenone (ROT) inhibits the respiratory chain complex I, causes toxicity, activates NADPH oxidase, causes oxidative stress and selective degeneration of the dopaminergic system, with subsequent behavioral disturbs, which are characteristic of PD. Treatments for PD only promote symptomatic relief in the early stages, do not protect against disease progression, also provoke collateral effects as drowsines, confusion and worsening of motor function. Thus, the development of new therapeutic options, which are more effective and safer and also reduce the collateral effects, consists in one of the objectives of the international scientific scenario. Lutein, the main carotenoid found in the human brain, possesses greater antioxidant property compared to other carotenoids. Therefore, the objective of the present study is to evaluate the effect of lutein nanoparticles on an experimental DP model on Drosophila melanogaster. In order to verify lutein ́s protection effect on the damage induced by ROT, the flies (both sexes) with ages between 1 and 4 days, were divided into 4 groups: control group, ROT (500 μM), lutein nanoparticles (6μM) and ROT (500 μM) + nanoencapsulated (6μM), during 7 days. The survival percentage was evaluated during the 7 days. Afterward, the flies were evaluated in the behavioral tasks and posteriorly used to prepare the samples for the biochemical analysis. It was verified that the exposure to lutein nanoparticles (6 μM during 7 days) protected against the damages induced by ROT in test locomotor and exploratory damages and increased the survival rate of the flies as well. Still, it restored the dopamine (DA) levels, regulated the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, the oxidative stress indicators and the cell viability. These results suggest the involvement of the oxidative stress and the dopaminergic and cholinergic system in PD. They also provide evidence that lutein nanoparticles are a possible alternative for the treatment of PD.