Background
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s disease. PD is characterized by a large number of dyskinetic and non-dyskinetic features, including motor dysfunctions (such as resting tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, and postural instability) and non-motor symptoms (such as autonomic dysfunction, cognitive/neurobehavioural abnormalities, sleep disorders, and paresthesias) [
1,
2]. Ageing is the most important risk factor for PD, and biochemical changes resulting from ageing amplify the abnormalities in the brain of patients with PD [
3]. The incidence of PD increases with age, with > 12 million people expected to be diagnosed with PD by 2040 [
4,
5]. The main pathologic features of PD are the degeneration and death of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and a significant reduction in dopamine content [
6,
7]. Although displaying phenotypic similarity, PD is classified as familial (85–90%) and sporadic (10–15%) based on the aetiology and pathogenesis [
8,
9]. Familial PD is commonly caused by alterations in six genes: membrane interaction gene (
alpha-
synuclein [
SNCA]); mitochondrial quality control genes (
parkin [
PRKN],
PTEN-
induced kinase 1 [
PINK1], and
leucine-
rich repeat kinase 2 [
LRRK2]); oxidative damage control gene (
Parkinson disease protein 7 [
PARK7]); and lysosomal enzyme gene (
glucocerebrosidase [
GBA1]) [
9,
10]. The aetiology and pathogenesis of sporadic PD are more complicated owing to diverse genetic and environmental factors. Both environmental and genetic factors can lead to the degeneration and death of dopaminergic neurons. Mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, altered protein processing, and inflammatory changes are currently considered to be the primary causes of neuronal dysfunction and death through apoptosis [
11].
The treatment of PD patients focuses on the improvement of motor disorders (such as tremor, stiffness, and bradykinesia) and non-motor disorders (such as constipation, cognition, mood, and sleep) [
12]. Potential treatment strategies for PD include drug therapy, gene therapy, stem cell transplantation, surgery, and deep brain stimulation [
13‐
15]. Most patients with PD adopt drug therapy; gene- and cell-based treatments have not achieved great breakthroughs in therapy. Medications include L-dopa (LD), dopamine agonists, anticholinergics, amantadine, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and catecholamine-O-methyltransferase inhibitors [
16,
17]. Regular use of LD is beneficial to patients with PD in the long term [
18]. Dopamine agonists reduce adverse motor fluctuations, but also have side effects that decrease the quality of life in PD patients and pose a great risk to elderly patients with cardiovascular disease [
19]. Anticholinergic drugs can only be used in patients with early-stage PD, inhibit central acetylcholine activity, but induce memory and cognitive dysfunction [
20]. Amantadine was initially used for the treatment of influenza and has gradually been used in patients with early-stage PD, but amantadine is poorly tolerated in elderly PD patients [
21]. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors have a good pharmacokinetic profile that improves the state of dopamine deficiency and results in a significant improvement in dyskinesia [
22]. Moreover, peripheral catecholamine-O-methyltransferase inhibitors reduce the systemic metabolism of LD, but some drugs need to be combined with LD to have an effect [
23]. As the disease progresses, there is an emergence of complications related to long-term symptomatic treatment, including motor and non-motor fluctuations, dyskinesia, and psychosis [
24‐
28].
Widely used PD animal models contribute to the accumulation of evidence regarding the molecular mechanism and pathogenesis of PD. At present, the modelling of PD mainly includes transgenic and neurotoxin-induced models. Mutations in the
PRKN gene, which encodes an E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase, are the most common cause of recessive PD and early-onset PD by blocking protein degradation and causing protein aggregation, resulting in neurotoxicity [
29]. This finding serves as the basis for
PRKN-targeted knockout familial PD models. A variety of neurotoxins can mimic PD models, such as 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), rotenone, reserpine, maneb, and paraquats [
30‐
33]. The 6-OHDA, a catecholaminergic neurotoxin, cannot cross the blood-brain barrier; therefore, it needs to be injected into the substantia nigra of the brain. Moreover, this method is unable to completely recapitulate the symptoms of PD patients, and it does not form the features of PD (Lewy bodies) [
34,
35]. Rotenone is a fat-soluble herbicide that passes through the blood-brain barrier, but selectively inhibits mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I, causing multiple organ damage and high mortality in animals [
36]. Reserpine is an inhibitor of the vesicular monoamine transporter 2 in the central nervous system that reduces the content of monoamines and is used as an effective antihypertensive drug. Large doses of reserpine also cause PD-like symptoms in experimental animals, but it does not cause persistent neuronal damage [
37]. The chemical structure of paraquat is similar to 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP
+), a commonly-used herbicide, and maneb, which is a fungicide. The combined use of these two drugs can better simulate the pathogenesis of PD patients; however, there are few studies involving the adverse effects of paraquat and maneb, and as a result, it is not easy to evaluate the safety of the combined use of paraquat and maneb [
38]. The 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced PD models reproduce the pathologic features of PD at multiple levels, and no severe supererogatory side effects have been found, so MPTP is ideal for PD modelling [
39,
40].
Oxidative damage to endogenous macromolecules is known to lead to the excess accumulation of free radicals, which triggers a cascade of events leading to cell death [
41]. PD patients often exhibit oxidative damage. Previous research has shown that flavonoids, saponins, polysaccharides, alkaloids, and other substances in nature have antioxidant and anti-ageing effects [
42,
43]. These substances provide a theoretical scope for targeted screening of potential therapeutic drugs for PD.
Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) is a proteoglycan that has anti-ageing and anti-oxidation, reducing blood lipid and enhancing immunity functions. LBP has been reported to have neuroprotective effects against cerebral reperfusion-induced injury in the brain by scavenging free radicals [
44]. LBP upregulates levels of superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase 1 (Gpx1) and inhibits the abnormal aggregation of α-synuclein induced by MPTP [
45]. In addition, LBP plays an important role in protecting against neurotoxicity via the
Nrf2-
HO-
1 pathway [
46]. Furthermore, LBP protects optic neurons after treatment in a mouse glaucoma model [
47]. Therefore, we hypothesize that LBP might protect dopaminergic neurons from the pathologic symptoms of PD.
In this study, a novel PD animal model was established using MPTP in silkworms. This model was then utilized to investigate dopamine metabolism and oxidative stress. Restoration was achieved by LD and CD combination and enhanced by the drug efficacy of a small molecule called LBP.
Methods
Silkworm feeding and body weight determination
The silkworm wild-type strain was obtained from the Silkworm Gene Bank at Southwest University (Chongqing, China). The silkworm larvae were maintained at 25.5 ± 1 °C with a relative humidity of 90–65% with circadian rhythms of 12 h light/12 h dark each day of the life cycle. The silkworms were reared ad libitum with fresh mulberry leaves throughout the larval stage [
48]. The larval body weights of silkworms were measured from the 2nd instar before feeding the mulberry leaves each day. Three sets of biological replicates were designed for each group with 10 silkworm individuals. This study conformed to the statement of Southwest University on the Welfare of Animals.
Toxicity of MPTP to silkworm individuals
This experiment adopted the method that mulberry leaves were smeared with medicaments for feeding. Three concentrations of MPTP solution (125, 250, and 500 μM) were spread on the back of mulberry leaves, and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solution was used as a control. Each group contained 100 silkworm larvae, fed with the corresponding smeared mulberry leaves that had dried. The daily intake of medicaments in the four groups was as follows: 1 μL for 2nd instar silkworms, 2 μL for 3rd instar silkworms, 5 μL for 4th instar silkworms, and 20 μL for 5th instar silkworms. The silkworms were fed on mulberry leaves smeared with MPTP or PBS solution in the morning, and common mulberry leaves for the remainder of the time. Finally, the toxic effect of different concentrations on silkworms was determined according to the number of surviving silkworms on day 5 of the 5th instar larvae.
Determination of silkworm behaviour
The movement speed was measured by the observation and analysis system of insect behaviour and habits (Beijing CaSO Zhonghe Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing, China). The temperature and humidity conditions were set at 25 °C and 75%, respectively. Five 5th instar larvae were placed into the instrument and the behaviour trajectory was recorded within 5 min. The movement speed was subsequently calculated according to the movement area within 5 min. The turnover ability was determined by recording the period required for the silkworm from turning over to returning to the normal posture. The grasping ability of the silkworm was detected by recording the period required for the silkworm from being put on the brush holder to falling. The abdominal bending ability was detected by turning the silkworm over with the head pressed, then recording the period until the silkworm’s abdomen bent 90°.
Determination of total antioxidant activity and oxidation product content
Silkworm individuals were dissected and the brain tissues were obtained. The brain tissues were washed twice with PBS solution and immediately quick-frozen with liquid nitrogen. Tissues were ground into a smooth fine powder, then packed into 1.5-mL RNase-free centrifuge tubes and quick-frozen to prepare protein samples. A BCA protein concentration determination kit (Beyotime Biotech Inc, Shanghai, China) was used to determine the protein concentration. The activity of total antioxidant capacity and malondialdehyde (MDA) level was assayed using kits (Suzhou Keming Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Suzhou, China). Additionally, the homogenate content from an entire silkworm brain was assayed according to the kit instructions.
Detection of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity
The activity of insect TH was determined using a double-antibody sandwich method with an insect TH enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit (Jiangsu Enzyme Immune Industrial Co., Ltd., Yancheng, China). The sample was ground into powder and fully dissolved with PBS to determine the protein concentration. Fifty-microliter standards were added in the control group, while 40-μL sample diluent and 10-μL sample were added in the treatment group, mixed well, and the plate was sealed. Standards and sample mixtures were incubated for 30 min at 37 °C and washed five times. Then, 50-μL enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay reagent was added. Standards and sample mixtures were incubated for 30 min at 37 °C after washing five times. The following colour development step was performed according to the kit instructions. The absorbance was measured at 450 nm within 15 min after termination of the reaction. The protein activity of the sample was calculated according to the standard curve.
Detection of dopamine content by ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC)
The brain tissues dissected from day 5 of the 5th instar silkworms fed with 125 μM MPTP and PBS were preserved in dopamine extract and stored in the dark. Five samples of brain tissue were taken from each of the four groups. Tissue grinding was performed on ice with a hand-held homogenizer (MY-10, Shanghai Jingxin Industrial Development Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China).
The ground homogenate was centrifuged for 10 min at 4 °C and 12,000 rpm to extract dopamine from the sample. The supernatant was transferred to a new 1.5-mL RNase-free centrifuge tube (wrapped with tinfoil paper) and boiled for 5 min to denature proteins. After the supernatant was cooled to room temperature, two volumes of methylene chloride were added as the deproteinizing solution, vortexed for 3 min, and centrifuged for 10 min at 4 °C and 12,000 rpm. The supernatant was obtained for UPLC (LC-30A, Shimadzu, Kyoto, Japan) analysis.
The content of dopamine was determined by UPLC with Shim-pack XR-ODS III (2.0 mm × 75 mm, 1.6μm, Shimadzu, Kyoto, Japan). Labsolution software (Shimadzu, Kyoto, Japan) was used and the RF-20a detector was selected. The automatic exhaust mode was set for flow paths A, B, C, and D for 5 and 10 min for R0 and R3, respectively. The mobile phase consisted of 0.1 M citrate phosphate buffer (pН 2.68), containing 0.3 mM sodium octanesulfonate (Sigma, St Louis, USA), 0.1 mM EDTA (Sangon Biotech (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China), and 10% methanol (Sigma, St Louis, USA). The parameters were set as follows: data acquisition time, 5 min; injection volume, 5 μL; injection needle stroke of the autosampler, 50 mm; sample aspiration rate, 5 μL/sec; flow rate, 0.2 mL/min; and chromatographic column oven temperature, 40 °C. The content of dopamine in the sample was calculated according to the standard curve.
Preparation of brain tissue section
The brain tissues of the silkworms were dissected under a microscope. The brain tissues were fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde for 10–20 min and washed once with PBS. The fixed brain tissues were embedded in the OCT embedding agent (SAKURA, Japan) and placed in a freezer for 30–60 min at −80 °C. The embedded tissue samples were placed in a frozen microtome for sectioning. The sectioned brain tissues were taken with an anti-falling glass slide and placed at room temperature for 30 min. The brain tissues were sealed and stored at −20 °C, but not treated immediately.
Immunofluorescence
All sections were incubated under standard conditions as follows: (a) in 4% paraformaldehyde (Beyotime Biotech Inc, Shanghai, China) for 5–10 min at room temperature; (b) in sodium citrate antigen retrieval solution (Beyotime Biotech Inc, Shanghai, China) treated under microwave at low power heat for 10 min; (c) in seal solution (Beyotime Biotech Inc, Shanghai, China) for 1 h at room temperature or 24 h at 4 °C; (d) TH-polyclonal antibody (1:500; Shanghai Youke Biotechnology Co. Ltd., Shanghai, China) for 24 h at 4 °C; and (e) CY3-labelled goat anti-rabbit IgG H + L (1:100; Beyotime Biotech Inc, Shanghai, China) for 1–2 h at room temperature. The sections were washed three times with PBS after each incubation step for 5 min each. After the sections were dehydrated, the DAPI-containing anti-fluorescence quencher was added dropwise. The sections were incubated with a cover glass in the dark for 10 min. Nail polish was dropped at the edge of the coverslip to prevent slippage, and the sections were imaged with a fluorescence microscope (BX63; Olympus Corporation, Tokyo, Japan).
Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR)
The CDS sequences of corresponding genes were introduced into Primer 5.0 software (Premier, San Francisco, USA). The primers were designed to make the length of the amplified products between 80 and 350 bp. Total RNA was extracted using a Total RNA Kit (BioTeke Corporation, Beijing, China), and the cDNA was synthesized using a PrimeScript
TM RT Reagent Kit with gDNA Eraser (Takara Biomedical Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., Beijing, China). RT-qPCR was performed on qTOWER
3 G (analytikjena, Jena, Germany). The procedure was set according to the protocols of the SYBR Green Supermix Kit (Yeasen Biotechnology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China). Primer sequences and their targeted genes are shown in Table
1. The relative expression of each gene was normalized to the reference gene,
sw22934, and calculated as 2
−△△CT [
49].
Table 1
The primer sequences for RT-qPCR used in this study
sw22934 | TTCGTACTGCTCTTCTCG | CAAAGTTGATAGCAATTCCCT |
BmTH | TTCAGGACTGAACACAAACTCT | GGTTCTGCGGTTCTTTATCATC |
BmPARK2 | GAAGATGACACGAAAGACGATG | CTCAAGCTCAGTTTGTCTTTCC |
BmDDC | TGCGGTGATGGCGGATAT | TGGGAAGTAGGCGTGGAAC |
Statistical analysis
Statistical analyses were performed using GraphPad Prism 9.0 (GraphPad Software, San Diego, USA). The differences in independent experiments were analysed and calculated using a two-tailed Student’s t-test and two-way ANOVA. The error bars are presented as the mean ± SD and p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Discussion
Silkworms contain 5006 genes that are highly homologous to human pathogenic genes [
55] and have been developed as models for a variety of human diseases, including sepiapterin reductase deficiency [
56], diabetes [
57‐
59], gout [
60], epilepsy [
61], and other neurodegenerative diseases. As a model of neurodegenerative disease, silkworms have many anatomic and physiologic advantages [
62]. First, silkworms have a relatively simple nervous system. Second, silkworms respond sensitively to the stimulation of exogenous substances by both injection and oral administration. Third, there are many mutants of key enzymes in dopamine metabolism in silkworms, such as
TH mutation (Bmsch mutant) and N-acetyl transferases mutation (Bmmln mutant), among others, which provides convenience for further exploration of dopamine synthesis and metabolic pathways [
63].
A recent study used 6-OHDA to induce the PD model in silkworms. Proteomics and metabolomics showed PD-like symptoms, such as locomotion dysfunction, dopamine neuron loss, and alterations in neurotransmitters and structural proteins [
64]. Our study chose MPTP to construct a PD model because MPTP is s a typical PD modelling agent due to its penetration properties in the blood-brain barrier. PD animal models of this kind could phenocopy the sporadic PD characteristics, including degeneration of dopaminergic neurons and corresponding motor dysfunction [
65]. Oxidative stress is thought to contribute to the pathogenesis of PD by challenging mitochondrial homeostasis, inflammation, and dopaminergic cell death [
66]. Therefore, this study also demonstrated systematic oxidative stress along with the dopamine metabolism pathway.
The immediate precursor of dopamine, LD, can be transferred into the brain via a mechanism of facilitated amino acid transport [
67]. Orally administered LD is the most common and effective therapy for treating PD due to its curative effect and cost-effectiveness. Except for the dopamine deficiency in PD, the primary therapeutic needs focus on the protection of dopaminergic neurons and the reversal of impaired motor functions. Compared to LD, we found that LBP has similar therapeutic effects in the recovery of locomotor capacity and protection of dopaminergic neurons. Furthermore, LBP has apparent advantages in restoring TH-activity and protecting against the accumulation of oxidative damage in neurodegenerative diseases. Long-term use of a single drug may lead to dependence and side-effects, and a decline in pharmacology response sensitivity. To minimize the risk, using commutative or combined drugs will offer a very efficient and convenient choice. Altogether, LBP might be further investigated by thoroughly measuring the pharmacologic parameters and restored effect in neuroprotection. These results suggest that LBP has been shown to have a potent antioxidative role in alleviating degeneration in dopaminergic neurons, as well as functions in other neurologic disorders.
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