Parkinson’s disease is one of the most common degenerative disorders and is characterized by observable motor dysfunction and the loss of dopaminergic neurons. In this study, we fabricated curcumin nanoparticles using human serum albumin as a nanocarrier. Encapsulating curcumin is beneficial to improving its aqueous solubility and bioavailability. The curcumin-loaded HSA nanoparticles were acquired in the particle size and at the zeta potential of 200 nm and −10 mV, respectively. The curcumin-loaded human serum albumin nanoparticles ameliorated Parkinson’s disease features in the C. elegans model, including body movement, basal slowing response, and the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. These results suggest that curcumin nanoparticles have potential as a medicinal nanomaterial for preventing the progression of Parkinson’s disease.
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative
disease
characterized by the selective degeneration of neurons, primarily
in the substantia nigra. Environmental or exogenous factors that cause
Parkinson’s disease have not been sufficiently elucidated.
Our study aims to investigate the causative effect of a high-glucose
diet on Parkinson’s disease-relevant dopaminergic neuronal
system in
Caenorhabditis elegans
. Aging
parameters were first observed by measuring the lifespan, body movement,
and body sizes with and without the background of high glucose. The
toxic effect of a high-glucose diet was further explored by observing
the dopaminergic neurons using transgenic Pdat-1::gfp strains, BZ555,
under a Zeiss microscope, and the experiments were extended by assessing
dopamine-related behavioral analysis including basal slowing response
and alcohol avoidance. The aggregation of the α-synucleins was
also assessed by observing the NL5901 mutants. Worms fed with 250
mM glucose showed
daf-2
-independent regulation of
aging, displaying a short lifespan (≤15 days), long body size
(max. 140%), and slow movement (min. 30%, 10 bends/min). Anterior
dopaminergic neurons were rapidly inactivated (70%) by a glucose-rich
diet from 12 h of exposure, suggesting specific degeneration in ADE
neurons. The dysregulation of neurons led to deteriorations in dopaminergic
behaviors including basal slowing response (BSR). A high-glucose diet
decreased dopamine synthesis (40 pg/mg vs 15 pg/mg protein) and induced
α-synuclein aggregation in the muscles. Results demonstrate
the potential of a high-glucose diet as a trigger of dopaminergic
neuronal dysregulation conjugating aging acceleration.
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