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Oxidative stress, hyperactivation of compensatory mechanisms (unfolded protein response, UPR; nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2, Nrf2) and the stimulation of maladaptive response (inflammation/apoptosis) are interconnected pathogenic processes occurring during Alzheimer's disease (AD) progression. The neuroprotective ability of dietary Conjugated linoleic acid (CLAmix) in a mouse model of AlCl 3 -induced AD was recently described but, the effects of AlCl 3 or CLAmix intake on these pathogenic processes are still unknown. The effects of dietary AlCl 3 or CLAmix - alone and in combination - were examined in the brain cortex of twenty-eight BalbC mice divided into 4 groups (n = 7 each). The neurotoxic effects of AlCl 3 were investigated in animals treated for 5 weeks with 100 mg/kg/day (AL). CLAmix supplementation (600 mg/kg bw/day) for 7 weeks (CLA) was aimed at evaluating its modulatory effects on the Nrf2 pathway while its co-treatment with AlCl 3 during the last 5 weeks of CLAmix intake (CLA + AL) was used to investigate its neuroprotective ability. Untreated mice were used as controls. In the CLA group, the NADPH oxidase (NOX) activation in the brain cortex was accompanied by the modulation of the Nrf2 pathway. By contrast, in the AL mice, the significant upregulation of oxidative stress markers, compensatory pathways (UPR/Nrf2), proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNFα) and the proapoptotic protein Bax levels were found as compared with control. Notably, in CLA + AL mice, the marked decrease of oxidative stress, UPR/Nrf2 markers and proinflammatory cytokines levels were associated with the significant increase of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl2. The involvement of NOX in the adaptive response elicited by CLAmix along with its protective effects against the onset of several pathogenic processes triggered by AlCl 3 , broadens the knowledge of the mechanism underlying the pleiotropic activity of Nrf2 activators and sheds new light on their potential therapeutic use against neurodegenerative disorders. [Display omitted] • ER stress and UPR hyperactivation coexist in brain disorders. • Dietary CLAmix activates an Nrf2-mediated adaptive response in the mouse brain cortex. • Dietary AlCl 3 upregulates compensatory pathways (UPR, Nrf2) in the mouse cortex. • Dietary AlCl 3 triggers a maladaptive response (inflammation, apoptosis). • CLAmix prevents AlCl 3 -induced UPR, Nrf2 hyperactivation and maladaptive response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, inflammation and glucose dysmetabolism are pathological signs of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Dietary aluminum (Al) overload is often used to induce AD in rodents and trigger the onset of oxidative-stress hallmarks resembling those of the human disease. The Nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2), owing to its key role in redox homeostasis, mitochondrial function and inflammation, is a promising drug target for neurological disorders, but only a few data are available on its modulatory effects on glucose transporter expression levels. While it has been found that the protective effect of Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) occurs through the activation of an Nrf2-mediated adaptive response, its beneficial effect on the considered pathological signs in the Al -induced model has not been established yet. Thirty-five male BalbC mice were divided into 5 groups: two Al -intoxicated groups were treated for 5 weeks with low or high Al doses (8 or 100 mg/kg/day in drinking water, respectively; L or H). Two groups of animals, orally supplemented with CLA (600 mg/kg bw/day) for 7 weeks (2 preliminary weeks plus the 5-week treatment with Al ; CLA + L , CLA + H) were used to investigate its protective effect, while untreated mice were used as control (Cntr). We provide evidence that mitochondrial dysfunction, Nrf2 alteration, inflammation and Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) hyperactivation can occur even from L exposure. Interestingly, animal pre-treatment with an allometric CLA dose led to significant downregulation of the toxic effects elicited by L or H , likely through the activation of an adaptive response. In conclusion, CLA ability to increase the level of glucose transporters - along with its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect - expands the therapeutic targets of these molecules and comes out as an intriguing suitable candidate for the treatment of multifactorial disease. The toxic effect triggered by AlCl 3 intake is accompanied by the appearance of some pathognomonic signs of Alzheimer's disease (AD), namely mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, increased pro-inflammatory cytokines levels, neuronal loss, phase 2 enzyme and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) hyperactivation. Animal supplementation with Conjugated linoleic Acid (CLA) before AlCl 3 treatment activated an Nrf2-mediated adaptive response which restores/prevents the alteration elicited by AlCl 3 intake and upregulates glucose transporters levels (GLUT-1-3,4). [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]