Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: study of the mechanisms associated with carnosine effects

Abstract

One of the central goals of CEPID-Redoxoma is to study the chemical reactivity of redox intermediates in biological environments and consequent changes in the structure and function of biomolecules. To understand how each redox intermediate reacts with specific biomolecules and the resulting effects of these reactions are essential for the design of biomarkers and the development of possible redox balance regulators. Our group studies the mechanisms of formation, detoxification and reaction of reactive aldehydes with biomolecules. Recently, we performed the complete characterization of a new product arising from the reaction of carnosine and acrolein. In addition, the biological formation of this adduct was demonstrated by the detection and quantification of this product in human urinary samples by LC/MS/MS. This project proposes to continue these studies through the investigation of the mechanisms of carnosine in the detoxification of reactive aldehydes in transgenic rats model for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and its possible use as a therapeutic strategy. This study is justified by preliminary studies of our group, where we observed about 30% increases in survival and clinical improvement of ALS animals treated with carnosine. (AU)