Dual-action strategy to reprogram chaperone activity for α-synuclein aggregate clearance in Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease, a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, is characterized by the accumulation of toxic α-synuclein aggregates. Molecular chaperones, key to homeostasis, offer a promising mechanism for the clearance of misfolded proteins. Here, we investigated a novel therapeutic approach combining the natural compound resveratrol and lithium chloride in an in vitro model of Parkinson's disease using human LUHMES cells challenged with pre-formed α-synuclein fibrils (PFF). The impact of mono- and co-treatment on α-synuclein levels, aggregation, cell viability, metabolic activity, oxidative stress, aggresome formation, and chaperone activation was assessed. FTIR spectroscopy was employed to analyze cellular biochemical profiles. Our findings demonstrate that the co-treatment of resveratrol and lithium chloride elicits a potent combination effect, significantly reducing both unphosphorylated and phosphorylated α-synuclein levels and decreasing the formation of aggresomes. Notably, this combined treatment robustly activated the cellular molecular chaperone system, a key mechanism for protein quality control. Furthermore, the co-therapy protected cellular viability and maintained metabolic activity, without exacerbating oxidative stress. Biochemical profiling using FTIR spectroscopy further supported the beneficial impact of the co-treatment, indicating a trend towards the restoration of normal cellular molecular signatures. These results underscore the unique and promising potential of combining resveratrol and lithium chloride as a supplementary therapeutic strategy for Parkinson's disease, leveraging their enhanced action to enhance the clearance of neurotoxic α-synuclein aggregates.