Label-free photothermal disruption of cytotoxic aggregates rescues pathology in a C. elegans model of Huntington's disease.

ABSTRACT: Aggregation of proteins is a prominent hallmark of virtually all neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases. Little progress has been made in their treatment to slow or prevent the formation of aggregates by post-translational modification and regulation of cellular responses to misfolded proteins. Here, we introduce a label-free, laser-based photothermal treatment of polyglutamine (polyQ) aggregates in a C. elegans nematode model of huntingtin-like polyQ aggregation. As a proof of principle, we demonstrated that nanosecond laser pulse-induced local photothermal heating can directly disrupt the aggregates so as to delay their accumulation, maintain motility, and extend the lifespan of treated nematodes. These beneficial effects were validated b

SUBMITTER: Nedosekin DA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8492664 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature