title: Formation of stacking complexes between caffeine (1,2,3-trimethylxanthine) and 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine may attenuate biological effects of this neurotoxin.
abstract: 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) is a neurotoxin causing symptoms that may resemble those observed in patients suffering from Parkinson's disease. Therefore, MPTP-treated laboratory animals are currently the most favored models to study therapeutic intervention strategies in this disease. It was demonstrated recently that caffeine (1,2,3-trimethylxanthine) intake decreases the risk of Parkinson's disease in various human populations and attenuates MPTP-induced neurological effects in animal models. Since the effects of caffeine on MPTP-treated animals were mimicked by several antagonists of the adenosine A(2A) receptor, it was suggested that caffeine attenuates MPTP toxicity by blocking this receptor. Here, using microcalorimetry and molecular modeling, we demonstrate that caffeine can form stacking (pi-pi) complexes with MPTP. We found that a biological activity of MPTP (induction of mutations in a microbiological mutagenicity assay), which is completely independent on the A(2A) receptor blockade, is significantly reduced by caffeine. Therefore, we suggest that caffeine may attenuate neurotoxicity of MPTP (and possibly other polycyclic aromatic toxins) and reveal its protective effects on the risk of Parkinson's disease not only by blocking the A(2A) receptor but also by sequestering neurotoxin molecules in mixed complexes, especially in stomach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdańsk, Kładki 24, 80-822 Gdansk, Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ulanowska
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Piosik
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gwizdek-Wiśniewska
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: We Grzyn
mesh_terms: D015632:1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002110:Caffeine / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002151:Calorimetry; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D009498:Neurotoxins; D020734:Parkinsonian Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D014733:Vibrio / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D009498:Neurotoxins; D002110:Caffeine; D015632:1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine