Geroprotective properties of neuroprotective and neurotrophic peptides
Objective: to elucidate whether cerebrolysin contains peptide fragments that promote geroprotection. Material and methods. The peptide composition of cerebrolysin underwent a comprehensive mass spectrometric analysis, followed by a systemic biological assessment. Results and discussion. Thirty-six peptides with geroprotective properties were isolated in the multipeptide composition of cerebrolysin. These peptides included those of mimetics of adrenomedullin and enkephalins; those of inhibitors of seven targeted human proteins (the protein kinases MAPK1, VPRBP, and PKC, the gamma-secretase PS1, the kinases CDK1, SGK1 and mTOR). The established cerebrolysin peptides were shown to be competitive inhibitors of the seven targeted proteins. In particular, inhibition of PKC and mTOR stimulated the increased autophagy (the utilization of waste and abnormal proteins), which contributes to an increase in the survival of cells and model organisms. Conclusion. Cerebrolysin can have geroprotective effects, by inhibiting the seven targeted proteins, by activating endorphinergic neurotransmission, and can be indirectly involved in vascular tone normalization.