Modulation of Heat Shock Response Proteins by ASS234, Targeted for Neurodegenerative Diseases Therapy

ASS234, is a new multitarget molecule with multiple neuroprotective actions, that significantly elevated mRNA levels of NRF2 and HSF1 transcriptional factors and of HSP105, HSP90AB1, HSPA1A, HSPA1B, HSPA5, HSPA8, HSPA9, HSP60, DNAJA1, DNAJB1, DNAJB6, DNAJC3, DNAJC5, DNAJC6, HSPB1, HSPB2, HSPB5, HSPB6, HSPB8 and HSP10 heat shock proteins (HSPs) family members in SH-SY5Y cells. This NRF2 and HSF1 overexpression, may explain the upregula-tion of both the antioxidant enzymes previously described and the members of the HSPs family observed. These findings suggest that ASS234 is a potent HSPs inductor, which might be beneficial for preventing protein misfolding aggregation and cell death in Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.