Unraveling the cellular mechanism involved in the neuroprotective effect mediated by Ilex Paraguariensis (Yerba mate)

FERRARIO, JUAN E.; HAUCHE, HERNAN; BALLESTERO, PEDRO; ANESETTI, SOLEDAD; TARAVINI, IRENE; BORDONE, MELINA; GERSHANIK, OSCAR

Miami

Congreso; 3rd Pan American Parkinson?s Disease and Movement Disorders Congress; 2020

International Parkinson and Movement Disorders Society

Objective: To investigate the molecular mechanisms triggered by exposure to yerba mate [YM]) extract which may help to understand neuronal survival. Backgound: The consumption of some beverages, as coffee, tea and YM have been inversely associated with incidence of PD. In accordance, our group demonstrated that YM extract provides survival to dopaminergic neurons in vitro.Methods: As follow up of our previous work (Bernardi et al. 2019), we are investigating the cellular and molecular mechanisms regulated by YM treatment, which may be responsible of the observed neuroprotective effects. We have used two in vitro models to reach this goal: 1) We have studied cell growth, differentiation and regulation of key molecular markers by western blot on the human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells under YM treatment. We have treated cells with different concentrations and at different time points of YM. 2) We have analyzed the expression of those markers in dopaminergic neurons from mouse mesencephalic primary cultures. Cell cultures were either processed for western blot or fixed and immunostained following standard procedures. Results: We found that yerba mate extract induces a mitogenic effect on the SH-SY5Y cell lines but it does not induces differentiation. Moreover, we measured the protein levels and phosphorylated status of key elements of energy signaling and autophagy (AMPK and p70S6K⍺), mitogenesis and differentiation (EGR-1) and the multifaceted ERK protein by Western Blot. We found that YM regulates these markers in a different manner. These results will be contrasted with the regulation of these markers triggered by caffeine, theobromine and chlorogenic acid, three components highly present in yerba mate extract.