Discovery may open new therapeutic avenues for degenerative diseases of the brain and eye (Omega-3 metabolite helps)

Medical Xpress / Louisiana State University / Cell Death & Disease ^ | Dec. 18, 2023 | Jorgelina M. Calandria et al

[ConservativeMind]

Scientists have identified a new mechanism that regulates a protein key for cell survival. It appears to protect against the excessive oxidative stress that precedes the development of neurodegenerative diseases of the brain and eye.

"This discovery goes beyond the commonly studied transcriptional modulation, suggesting its impact on protection against oxidative stress-related diseases and extension of lifespan," notes Dr. Bazan. "We found that Elovanoid-34 modulates the activity of the protein, TXNRD1, which is central to the initiation cascade of oxidative stress."

Elovanoid-34 is part of a class of molecules in the brain that synchronize cell-to-cell communication and neuroinflammation-immune activity in response to injury or disease. Elovanoids are bioactive chemical messengers made from omega-3, very long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. They are released on demand when cells are damaged or stressed.

Oxidative stress occurs when there is an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidant defenses to detoxify them. It can lead to the onset of diseases.

Researchers found that TXNRD1 is a crucial component of the antioxidant system, Glutathione, and targets a regulator of Ferroptosis, a type of cell death. This is particularly the case in Age-Related Macular Degeneration, where the support cells of the photoreceptors of the light in the retina succumb to excessive oxidative stress conditions.

These cells, called retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, can be rescued from death by Elovanoid-34, stopping the neurodegeneration of the retina and blindness. The current study uses human RPE cells.

"This breakthrough discovery opens therapeutic avenues for various pathologies and the promotion of successful aging of the nervous system," concludes Dr. Bazan.

"Overall, the protein discovered now to be a site of brain and retina (and likely other organs) protection by elovanoids opens avenues of targeted therapeutics for age-related diseases, stroke, ALS, and traumatic brain injury, as well as to sustain healthy, successful aging."

[ConservativeMind]

Omega-3 fats cannot be made by humans, so to assure you have enough available, get some every day.

It appears to be useful for rescuing retinal cells with Age-Related Macular Degeneration, among other conditions, in ways not previously known.

It also appears glutathione is an antioxidant that is useful. This can be increased via administration of GlyNAC (glycine and NAC).

[ConservativeMind]

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[ProtectOurFreedom]

GlyNAC seems to come up again and again.

Glycine and N-acetylcysteine (GlyNAC) supplementation in older adults improves glutathione deficiency, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction, genotoxicity, muscle strength, and cognition: Results of a pilot clinical trial

I've been taking NAC since COVID hit and, per your earlier recommendation, bought Glycine some time ago, but haven't added the Glycine to my supplement mix yet. Need to start that.

[sauropod]

Bkmk

[gleeaikin]

I may have done some damage to my right optic nerve after 3 months of illness with severe, violent coughing which almost caused me to vomit on several occasions. Ar any rate, before I was sick, both optic nerves were normal. Then I had to pass a cataract exam to continue to be allowed to drive. That is when the doctor noticed that part of my right optic nerve appeared to be gone/twisted, something wrong. They wanted me to start taking glaucoma medicine for both eyes even though both eyes had a pressure test score of 15 (normal range is 11 to 21) In fact when I asked the doctor to check my pressure scores for some years in the past, I sometimes had 17 or 16. My mother had glaucoma with high pressure, and a nervous up-tight personality. I am relaxed and happy so don’t believe I have low pressure glaucoma.

I was told, there was no cure for a damaged optic nerve, but with some careful Google searching found some suggestions that trauma can sometimes be healed. NAC was one item they suggested might help a damaged nerve heal, and I am taking it. I did not see anything about glycine or glutathione. I have some glutamine and wonder if that might be useful to increase my glutathione levels. I am also taking Alpha Lipoic Acid in the hope it will stimulate Adult Stem Cell Repair. And I could sure use more strength. Merry Christmas to all.

[ConservativeMind]

HMB helps older people get some strength back.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Merry Christmas to you and yours, too. I hope your optic nerve stabilizes.

[metmom]

Check out a book called, The Brain’s Way of Healing by Norman Doidge. It’s about neuroplasticity.

The sixth chapter in it is about a man who restored his vision when by all rights, it never have happened. He had physical damage and scarring to both his eyes and was essentially blind.