Ergothioneine exerts neuroprotective effects against vascular dementia by mitigating oxidative stress and inflammation
10.3969/j.issn.1009-0126.2025.11.023
- VernacularTitle:麦角硫因抑制氧化应激与炎性损伤改善血管性痴呆的机制
- Author:
Qingfang LIU
1
;
Tianran CAO
;
Fei XIAO
;
Chunxiang ZHOU
;
Qun LIU
;
Hui YUAN
;
Youshi WEI
Author Information
1. 中南大学湘雅医学院附属长沙医院(长沙市第一医院)全科医学科,长沙 410000
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
dementia,vascular;
oxidative stress;
heme oxygenase-1;
ergothioneine
- From:
Chinese Journal of Geriatric Heart Brain and Vessel Diseases
2025;27(11):1547-1551
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To investigate the protective mechanism of ergothioneine against oxidative stress and inflammatory damage in vascular dementia(VaD)neurons through activation of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/heme oxygenase-1(Nrf2/HO-1)signaling pathway.Methods A total of 15 VaD patients(VaD group)admitted in our hospital from December 2023 to April 2024 were prospectively recruited,and another 15 healthy individuals taking physical examination during same period were subjected and served as health group.Then,plasma ergothioneine levels in the two groups were quantified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(LC-MS/MS).In in vitro experiments,hippocampal neurons were isolated from neonatal rats,and then divided into control,oxygen-glucose deprivation model,ergothioneine,and ergothioneine+ML385 groups.The expression levels of key molecules of Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway,oxidative stress markers,inflammatory cytokines,and apoptosis-related proteins were detected with RT-qPCR and Western blotting.Results The VaD patients exhibited significantly reduced plasma ergothioneine level(694.71±106.87 vs 1268.84±152.87)and down-regulated mRNA levels of Nrf2(0.49±0.14 vs 1.00±0.17),HO-1(0.35±0.23 vs 1.00±0.14)and NQO1(0.39±0.16 vs 1.00±0.12)than the health group(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Compared with the control group,the model group showed significant increases in inflammatory factor levels.Ergothioneine treatment resulted in significant decreases in malondialdehyde and reactive oxygen species contents,and neuronal apoptosis rate.The ergothioneine+ML385 group showed a significant increase in hippocampal neuronal apoptotic rate,when compared with the ergothionein group.Conclusion Ergothioneine protects VaD neurons against oxidative stress and inflammatory damage by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.
