BackgroundParaquat, still used as an herbicide in some parts of the world, is now regarded as a dangerous environmental neurotoxin and is linked to the development Parkinson’s disease (PD). Paraquat interacts with cellular redox systems and causes mitochondrial dysfunction and the formation of reactive oxygen species, which in turn, plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of PD. Various antioxidant therapies have been explored with the expectations that they deliver health benefits to the PD patients, however, no such therapies were effective. Here we have tested the neuroprotective efficacy of a novel water-soluble CoQ10 (Ubisol-Q10), in a rat model of paraquat-induced neurodegeneration in order to evaluate its potential application in the management of PD.ResultsWe have developed a rat model of progressive nigrostriatal degeneration by giving rats five intraperitoneal injections of paraquat (10 mg/kg/injection), once every five days. Neuronal death occurred over a period of 8 weeks with close to 50% reduction in the number of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive cells. Ubisol-Q10, at 6 mg CoQ10/kg body weight/day, was delivered as a supplement in drinking water. The intervention begun after the completion of paraquat injections when the neurodegenerative process had already began and about 20% of TH-positive neurons were lost. Ubisol-Q10 treatment halted the progression of neurodegeneration and remaining neurons were protected. The outcomes were evaluated based on the number of surviving tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neurons in the substantia nigra region and improved motor skills in response to the Ubisol-Q10 intervention. To maintain this neuroprotection, however, continuous Ubisol- Q10 supplementation was required, if withdrawn, the neuronal death pathway resumed, suggesting that the presence of CoQ10 was essential for blocking the pathway.ConclusionThe CoQ10, given orally as Ubisol-Q10 in drinking solution, was effective in blocking the progression of neurodegeneration when administered therapeutically (post-toxin injection), at a much lower concentration than other previously tested oil soluble formulations and well within the acceptable daily intake of 12 mg/kg/day. Such unprecedented neuroprotection has never been reported before. These results are very encouraging and suggest that Ubisol-Q10 should be further tested and developed as a therapy for halting the progression of PD.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative pathologies for which there are no effective therapies to halt disease progression. Given the increase in the incidence of this disorder, there is an urgent need for pharmacological intervention. Unfortunately, recent clinical trials produced disappointing results. Molecular mechanisms of AD are converging on the notion that mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and accumulation of dysfunctional proteins are involved in AD pathology. Previously, we have shown that a water-soluble formulation of Coenzyme Q10 (Ubisol-Q10), an integral part of the electron transport chain, stabilizes mitochondria and prevents neuronal cell death caused by neurotoxins or oxidative stress both in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we evaluated the neuroprotective effects of Ubisol-Q10 treatment in double transgenic AD mice. In the present study, we report that providing Ubisol-Q10 in drinking water (at a dose of ∼6 mg/kg/day) reduced circulating amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide, improved long term memory, preserved working spatial memory, and drastically inhibited Aβ plaque formation in 18-month-old transgenic mice compared to an untreated transgenic group. Thus Ubisol-Q10 supplementation has the potential to inhibit the progression of neurodegeneration, leading to a better quality of life for humans suffering with AD.

Introduction: Parkinson's disease arises from a combination of environmental and genetic risk factors. At present neither the curative nor preventative therapies are available; hence, there is an urgent need to develop reliable animal models to facilitate their development. Water soluble nanomiceller formulation of CoQ 10 (Ubisol-Q 10) has shown neuroprotection against neurotoxin on human neuronal cells. We have combined the genetic deficiency of DJ-1/PARK7 mice with MPTP exposure and develop a genetic susceptibility model of PD and evaluated the neuroprotective efficacy of (Ubisol-Q 10). Methods: Transgenic mice with DJ-1 deficiency (DJ-1/PARK7) were given either water or Ubisol-Q 10 prophylactically at a dose of 6 mg/kg/day added directly to a drinking water for one month followed challenged with MPTP injections while keeping the same drinking water regiments. Four weeks after the last injection we evaluated neuroprotective efficacy of Ubisol-Q 10 in DJ-1/MPTP model of PD using histochemical and behavioral readouts. Results: We confirmed genetic susceptibility to MPTP and showed that prophylactic oral treatment with Ubisol-Q 10 significantly offset the neurotoxicity and ameliorated motor dysfunction, otherwise correlated with the MPTP injury. Conclusion: Ubisol-Q 10 protects against MPTP-induced neurodegeneration and motor dysfunction in DJ-1 deficient mice. Ubisol-Q 10 might be a treatment prospect for people genetically predisposed to PD as well as with sporadic PD.

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