Bioactive molecules isolated from olive pomace extract protect murine cortex neurons from NMDA‐mediated cell death

Here we demonstrate that olive pomace extracts contain bioactive molecules able to prevent primary neuron death induced by altered calcium homeostasis. We have observed previously that partially purified extracts counteracted calcium induced cell damages on human neuroblastoma (SK‐N‐BE) and mouse brain endothelioma (bEnd5) cell lines operating through the regulation of the cell dynamics that involve the calcium ions. It is well known that changes in [Ca 2+ ] i are crucial events during signal transduction processes involved in several cellular physiological functions. Moreover, even a limited dysregulation in intracellular Ca 2+ homeostasis is related to several acute and chronic diseases including neurodegenerations. In this context, we have now tested the effect of the bioactive molecules, detected in olive pomace, on primary cell cultures of murine cortex neurons, used as a cellular model. Accordingly, in order to induce a cytotoxic influx of Ca 2+ through opening of the NMDA receptor, we treated neurons s with NMDA (N‐Methyl‐D‐Aspartic‐Acid) for 24 hour. When this cell treatment was carried out in the presence of preparations of the bioactive molecules, the effect of NMDA, evaluated as percentage of cell death, was significantly reduced. Moreover, following cell exposure to NMDA in the absence or the presence of the bioactive molecules, the [Ca 2+ ] i was measured using different alternative techniques. The results obtained confirmed that these bioactive preparations act by molecular mechanisms that prevent the alteration of the intracellular calcium homeostasis mediated by NMDA. In conclusion, these bioactive molecules protect murine cortex neurons by reducing the toxic effects of [Ca 2+ ] i, operated by the NMDA receptor. Further investigations are in progress to understand if the bioactive olive pomace derived molecules act directly on this receptor or on pathways activated downstream its opening. At present, the issue we give the highest priority is to identify the molecular nature of the relevant bioactive compounds. To solve this question we are carrying out mass spectrometry analyses on differently purified extracts. The ultimate aim is to achieve definitive conclusions about the potential practical applications for these natural molecules in their purified form. Indeed, providing comprehensive information about the structural and functional aspects of these molecules is crucial to propose new possible strategies for therapeutic interventions in neurodegenerations. This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal .