Antioxidant Therapies for Neurodegenerative Diseases: Mechanisms, Current Trends and Perspectives
1Center for Oxidative Stress Research, Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
2Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
3Experimental & Translational Respiratory Group, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2300, Australia
4Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Radicales Libres, Facultad de Medicine, Universidad de la República Uruguay, Montevideo, Uruguay
Antioxidant Therapies for Neurodegenerative Diseases: Mechanisms, Current Trends and Perspectives
Description
The biomedical literature widely implicates free radicals and oxidative stress in the pathogenesis and development of neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Huntington's disease, among others. As a result, an increasing number of researchers have been studying the effects of antioxidants in the central nervous system in order to develop new therapies to treat these conditions. However, although neuroprotective effects by antioxidants have been observed in vitro and in animal models, efficacy of antioxidant-based therapies in clinic has been revealed rare or inexistent. The reasons for this paradox are unknown but certainly rely on the diversity and complexity of the cellular mechanisms affected by antioxidants in both redox-dependent and -independent fashions.
We invite authors to submit their original research as well as review articles on the mechanistic effectiveness of antioxidants whose use has been suggested/established in prophylactic or therapeutic solutions to treat/prevent neurodegenerative disorders. We are interested in works exploring the actions of antioxidants in the central nervous system, focusing at cellular and molecular mechanisms. Besides, the mechanisms underlying deleterious side effects, drawbacks, or lack of effectiveness when transposing experimental procedures to the clinics are encouraged to be discussed. Articles that describe cellular mechanisms of action of new antioxidants as well as papers relating to the effectiveness of experimental therapies in animal models are also welcome. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:
- Redox modulation of protein kinases and transcription factors related to neuron survival, cell cycle activation, and neuron plasticity
- Antioxidant interference on balance between the different antioxidant enzymes
- Polyphenols, terpenoids, and newly discovered natural compounds with potential antioxidant action on the central nervous system
- Bioavailability of antioxidants: comparisons between diet, supplementation, and pharmacological administration
- Antioxidants as alternatives to suppress the proinflammatory component of neurodegenerative diseases
- Double-edged sword: oxidative stress induced by antioxidants
- The role and mechanisms of glial cells on the maintenance of the redox balance in the brain
- Reviews on effectiveness and perspectives of the use of antioxidants in clinic
Before submission authors should carefully read over the journal's Author Guidelines, which are located at http://www.hindawi.com/journals/oximed/guidelines/. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal Manuscript Tracking System at http://mts.hindawi.com/ according to the following timetable: