Nutrigenomics in Parkinson’s disease: diversity of modulatory actions of polyphenols on epigenetic effects induced by toxins

ABSTRACT

Although the pathogenesis of Parkinson's Disease (PD) is not completely understood, there is a consensus that it can be caused by multifactorial mechanisms involving genetic susceptibility, epigenetic modifications induced by toxins and mitochondrial dysfunction. In the past 20 years, great efforts have been made in order to clarify molecular mechanisms that are risk factors for this disease, as well as to identify bioactive agents for prevention and slowing down of its progression. Nutraceutical products have received substantial interest due to their nutritional, safe and therapeutic effects on several chronic diseases. The aim of this review was to gather the main evidence of the epigenetic mechanisms involved in the neuroprotective effects of phenolic compounds currently under investigation for the treatment of toxin-induced PD. These studies confirm that the neuroprotective actions of polyphenols involve complex epigenetic modulations, demonstrating that the intake of these natural compounds can be a promising, low-cost, pharmacogenomic strategy against the development of PD.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Phenolic compounds
• pesticides
• DNA methyltransferase inhibitors/activators
• histone acetyltransferase activators/inhibitors
• histone deacetylase inhibitors
• non-coding RNAs
• Epigenetic modulation
• neuroprotection

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings described in this review are available according to the DOI information described in the reference list.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Level or Education Personnel, Brazil [Finance Code 001 and PROCAD-2013]; Foundation for the Support of Science and Technology of Pernambuco FACEPE Fundação de Amparo a Ciência e Tecnologia do Estado de Pernambuco [APQ-1037-2.07/15] and National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico) [CNPq # 426342/2018-6]. M.R.C. received scholarship from CAPES and L.V.P.G. from CNPq.

Notes on contributors

Moara Rodrigues-Costa

Moara Rodrigues-Costa is graduated in Biology, Master in Genetics and PhD student in Neurosciences in the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), Brazil.

Matheus Santos de Sousa Fernandes

Matheus Santos de Sousa Fernandes is graduated in Physical Education (University of Pernambuco), Master of Science from the University of São Paulo, Brazil, PhD in Progress in Neurosciences (UFPE).

Gabriela Carvalho Jurema-Santos

Gabriela Carvalho Jurema-Santos is graduated in Nutrition (UFPE), Master in Nutrition, Physical Activity and Phenotypic Plasticity (UFPE) and PhD student in Nutrition at UFPE.

Lílian Vanessa da Penha Gonçalves

Lílian Vanessa da Penha Gonçalves is student of Biomedicine in the UFPE.

Belmira Lara da Silveira Andrade-da-Costa

Belmira Lara da Silveira Andrade-da-Costa is Professor of Neurophysiology in the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology of UFPE.