TY - JOUR
T1 - Fatty Acids
T2 - An Insight into the Pathogenesis of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Therapeutic Potential
AU - Vesga‐jiménez, Diego Julián
AU - Martin, Cynthia
AU - Barreto, George E.
AU - Aristizábal‐pachón, Andrés Felipe
AU - Pinzón, Andrés
AU - González, Janneth
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
PY - 2022/3/1
Y1 - 2022/3/1
N2 - One of the most common lipids in the human body is palmitic acid (PA), a saturated fatty acid with essential functions in brain cells. PA is used by cells as an energy source, besides being a precursor of signaling molecules and protein tilting across the membrane. Although PA plays physiological functions in the brain, its excessive accumulation leads to detrimental effects on brain cells, causing lipotoxicity. This mechanism involves the activation of toll‐like receptors (TLR) and nuclear factor kappa‐light‐chain‐enhancer of activated B cells (NF‐κB) pathways, with the consequent release of pro‐inflammatory cytokines, increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and autophagy impairment. Importantly, some of the cellular changes induced by PA lead to an augmented susceptibility to the development of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson´s diseases. Considering the complexity of the response to PA and the intrinsic differences of the brain, in this review, we provide an overview of the molecular and cellular effects of PA on different brain cells and their possible relationships with neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). Furthermore, we propose the use of other fatty acids, such as oleic acid or linoleic acid, as potential therapeutic approaches against NDs, as these fatty acids can counteract PA’s negative effects on cells.
AB - One of the most common lipids in the human body is palmitic acid (PA), a saturated fatty acid with essential functions in brain cells. PA is used by cells as an energy source, besides being a precursor of signaling molecules and protein tilting across the membrane. Although PA plays physiological functions in the brain, its excessive accumulation leads to detrimental effects on brain cells, causing lipotoxicity. This mechanism involves the activation of toll‐like receptors (TLR) and nuclear factor kappa‐light‐chain‐enhancer of activated B cells (NF‐κB) pathways, with the consequent release of pro‐inflammatory cytokines, increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and autophagy impairment. Importantly, some of the cellular changes induced by PA lead to an augmented susceptibility to the development of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson´s diseases. Considering the complexity of the response to PA and the intrinsic differences of the brain, in this review, we provide an overview of the molecular and cellular effects of PA on different brain cells and their possible relationships with neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). Furthermore, we propose the use of other fatty acids, such as oleic acid or linoleic acid, as potential therapeutic approaches against NDs, as these fatty acids can counteract PA’s negative effects on cells.
KW - Brain cells
KW - Fatty acids
KW - Inflammation
KW - Neurodegenerative diseases
KW - Neuroprotection
KW - Palmitic acid
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85126418474&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/ijms23052577
DO - 10.3390/ijms23052577
M3 - Review article
C2 - 35269720
AN - SCOPUS:85126418474
SN - 1661-6596
VL - 23
JO - International Journal of Molecular Sciences
JF - International Journal of Molecular Sciences
IS - 5
M1 - 2577
ER -