Glycation, an endogenous process that leads to the production of
advanced glycation end products (AGEs), plays a role in the etiopathogenesis of different
neurodegenerative diseases, such as
Alzheimer's disease (AD).
Methylglyoxal is the most potent precursor of AGEs, and high levels of
methylglyoxal have been found in the cerebrospinal fluid of AD patients.
Methylglyoxal may contribute to AD both inducing extensive
protein cross-linking and mediating oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of
sulforaphane, an
isothiocyanate found in cruciferous vegetables, in counteracting
methylglyoxal-induced damage in SH-SY5Y
neuroblastoma cells. The data demonstrated that
sulforaphane protects cells against glycative damage by inhibiting activation of the
caspase-3 enzyme, reducing the phosphorylation of MAPK signaling pathways (ERK1/2, JNK, and p38), reducing oxidative stress, and increasing intracellular
glutathione levels. For the first time, we demonstrate that
sulforaphane enhances the
methylglyoxal detoxifying system, increasing the expression and activity of glyoxalase 1.
Sulforaphane modulated
brain-derived neurotrophic factor and its pathway, whose dysregulation is related to AD development. Moreover,
sulforaphane was able to revert the reduction of
glucose uptake caused by
methylglyoxal. In conclusion,
sulforaphane demonstrates pleiotropic behavior thanks to its ability to act on different cellular targets, suggesting a potential role in preventing/counteracting multifactorial
neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.