title: Co-ultramicronized Palmitoylethanolamide/Luteolin Promotes the Maturation of Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells.
abstract: Oligodendrocytes have limited ability to repair the damage to themselves or to other nerve cells, as seen in demyelinating diseases like multiple sclerosis. An important strategy may be to replace the lost oligodendrocytes and/or promote the maturation of undifferentiated oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs). Recent studies show that a composite of co-ultramicronized N-palmitoylethanolamine (PEA) and luteolin (co-ultramicronized PEA/luteolin, 10:1 by mass) is efficacious in improving outcome in experimental models of spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries. Here, we examined the ability of co-ultramicronized PEA/luteolin to promote progression of OPCs into a more differentiated phenotype. OPCs derived from newborn rat cortex were placed in culture and treated the following day with 10 μM co-ultramicronized PEA/luteolin. Cells were collected 1, 4 and 8 days later and analyzed for expression of myelin basic protein (MBP). qPCR and Western blot analyses revealed a time-dependent increase in expression of both mRNA for MBP and MBP content, along with an increased expression of genes involved in lipid biogenesis. Ultramicronized PEA or luteolin, either singly or in simple combination, were ineffective. Further, co-ultramicronized PEA/luteolin promoted morphological development of OPCs and total protein content without affecting proliferation. Co-ultramicronized PEA/luteolin may represent a novel pharmacological strategy to promote OPC maturation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barbierato
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Facci
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marinelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Morena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zusso
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Argentini
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Stephen D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Skaper
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giusti
mesh_terms: D000577:Amides; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D047311:Luteolin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010169:Palmitic Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000577:Amides; D004983:Ethanolamines; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein; D010169:Palmitic Acids; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C005958:palmidrol; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; D047311:Luteolin