Ruolo della PARP nello stress ossidativo

Abstract Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs) play a crucial role in DNA damage surveillance through their nick sensor functions. Since PARPs over activation leads to an excessive consumption of NAD? and ATP depletion, these enzymes also are involved in the early events of programmed cell death as well as in necrosis. In order to verify the protective action of L-carnosine and trehalose against NO induced cell death, in the present study we examined their effects on the expression of PARP-1, PARP-2 and iNOS in primary rat astrocyte and oligodendrocyte cells, treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon gamma (INFc), through semi-quantitative PCR and western analysis. To further characterize the molecular mechanisms underlying L-carnosine and trehalose action, we measured cell viability, nitrite production and LDH release. The data obtained clearly demonstrate that in the stress model employed L-carnosine and trehalose down regulate PARP-1 and PARP-2 expression in both cell phenotypes, thus suggesting their possible application in clinical trials.