Synergistic neuroprotection by coffee components eicosanoyl-5-hydroxytryptamide and caffeine in models of Parkinson's disease and DLB. Author Run Yan, Jie Zhang, Hye-Jin Park, Eun Park, Stephanie Oh, Haiyan Zheng, Eunsung Junn, Michael Voronkov, Jeffry Stock, M Maral Mouradian Publication Year 2018 Type Journal Article Abstract Hyperphosphorylated α-synuclein in Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites is a characteristic neuropathological feature of Parkinson's disease (PD) and Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). The catalytic subunit of the specific phosphatase, protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) that dephosphorylates α-synuclein, is hypomethylated in these brains, thereby impeding the assembly of the active trimeric holoenzyme and reducing phosphatase activity. This phosphatase deficiency contributes to the accumulation of hyperphosphorylated α-synuclein, which tends to fibrillize more than unmodified α-synuclein. Eicosanoyl-5-hydroxytryptamide (EHT), a fatty acid derivative of serotonin found in coffee, inhibits the PP2A methylesterase so as to maintain PP2A in a highly active methylated state and mitigates the phenotype of α-synuclein transgenic (Syn) mice. Considering epidemiologic and experimental evidence suggesting protective effects of caffeine in PD, we sought, in the present study, to test whether there is synergy between EHT and caffeine in models of α-synucleinopathy. Coadministration of these two compounds orally for 6 mo at doses that were individually ineffective in Syn mice and in a striatal α-synuclein preformed fibril inoculation model resulted in reduced accumulation of phosphorylated α-synuclein, preserved neuronal integrity and function, diminished neuroinflammation, and improved behavioral performance. These indices were associated with increased levels of methylated PP2A in brain tissue. A similar profile of greater PP2A methylation and cytoprotection was found in SH-SY5Y cells cotreated with EHT and caffeine, but not with each compound alone. These findings suggest that these two components of coffee have synergistic effects in protecting the brain against α-synuclein-mediated toxicity through maintenance of PP2A in an active state. Keywords Animals, Disease Models, Animal, Mice, Fatty Acids, Phosphorylation, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Brain, Neurons, Mice, Transgenic, Coffee, Protein Phosphatase 2, Serotonin, Parkinson Disease, Caffeine, Lewy Body Disease, Neuroprotection, alpha-Synuclein Journal Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Volume 115 Issue 51 Pages E12053-E12062 Date Published 2018 Dec 18 ISSN Number 1091-6490 DOI 10.1073/pnas.1813365115 Alternate Journal Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A PMCID PMC6304960 PMID 30509990 PubMedPubMed CentralGoogle ScholarBibTeXEndNote X3 XML