Salvatore Cuzzocrea

By Domenico Britti, Daniela Impellizzeri, Antonio Procopio and Salvatore Cuzzocrea

Part of the book: Olive Germplasm

By Irene Paterniti, Emanuela Esposito and Salvatore Cuzzocrea

A case of spinal cord injury (SCI) is defined as the occurrence of an acute traumatic lesion of neural elements in the spinal canal (spinal cord and cauda equina), resulting in temporary or permanent sensory and/or motor deficit. Most studies on traumatic SCI show a bimodal age distribution, with a first peak in young adulthood and a second peak in older adults. Spinal cord trauma activates a cascade of events that exacerbates the damage such as activation of inflammatory process that determinates cytokine and chemokine production and that generates reduction in functional recovery resulting in necrosis or apoptosis of neurons. However, the precise mechanism of SCI-induced inflammatory response remains not fully understood at present. Current strategy to treat damage to the spinal cord is limited, only the treatment with methylprednisolone (MP), if administered in excessive dose during the acute phase of the damage, could ameliorate patients with severe SCI. However, associated to the beneficial effects, there are growing evidence that high-dose of MP is correlated to increased risk of infections, pneumonia and gastrointestinal bleeding. Therefore, there is a necessity to develop new therapies to treat SCI; one of these is to selectively reduce inflammation that possess unique role in the processes of injury and recovery.

Part of the book: Recovery of Motor Function Following Spinal Cord Injury

By Marika Cordaro, Salvatore Cuzzocrea and Rosanna Di Paola

Many neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and age-related disorders are caused due to altered function or mutation in ion channels. Ion channels are important in maintaining cell homeostasis because they affect membrane potential and play a critical role in neurotransmitter secretion. As a result, it appears that a potential antiaging therapy strategy should consider treating multiple diseases at the same time or focusing on identifying a common target among the biological processes implicated in aging. In this chapter, we will go over some of the fundamental ideas of ion channel function in aging, as well as an overview of how ion channels operate in some of the most common aging-related disorders.

Part of the book: Ion Transporters

By Rosanna Di Paola, Salvatore Cuzzocrea, Roberta Fusco and Marika Cordaro

Inflammation is a biological reaction to oxidative stress in which cell starts producing proteins, enzymes, and other substances to restore homeostasis, while oxidative stress could be intrinsically a biochemical imbalance of the physiologically redox status of the intracellular environment. The nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/antioxidant response element (ARE) pathway, which controls the transcription of numerous antioxidant genes that protect cellular homeostasis and detoxification genes that process and eliminate all toxic compounds and substances before they can cause damage. The Nrf2 pathway is the heart of the daily biological response to oxidative stress. Transient activation of Nrf2 by diet can upregulate antioxidant enzymes to protect cells against oxidative stress inducers. In this chapter, we summarize the effects of some novel foods in the regulation of the Nrf2/ARE pathway and its cellular mechanisms.

Part of the book: Recent Developments in Antioxidants from Natural Sources

By Ramona D’Amico, Salvatore Cuzzocrea, Marika Cordaro and Rosanna Di Paola

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are free radicals derived from oxygen during normal cellular metabolism. Cells, under aerobic conditions, have a defense system against ROS, and in normal circumstances, there is an appropriate balance between prooxidants and antioxidants. When an overproduction of ROS develops or the body fails to eliminate ROS in excess, oxidative stress arises, during which ROS accumulate and damage cells and tissues. ROS plays a crucial role in the physiological processes and signaling pathways associated in both male and female fertility. In females, oxidative stress acts as a mediator in the modulation of important ovarian functions, and its complications such as abortions, recurrent pregnancy losses, preeclampsia, and gestational diabetes. In males, ROS plays an important role in normal physiological processes such as capacitation, hyperactivation, acrosome reaction, and sperm-oocyte fusion to ensure appropriate fertilization. However, high concentrations of ROS cause sperm pathologies (ATP depletion) in the form of inadequate axonemal phosphorylation or lipid peroxidation, resulting in a loss of sperm motility and viability. This chapter will highlight the mechanisms, production, physiological, and pathophysiological roles of ROS in relation to the male and female reproductive system, and recent advances in diagnostic methods that use ROS as biochemical markers.

Part of the book: Reactive Oxygen Species