Identificação de peptídeos bioativos de uma amostra brasileira de Kefir, e seu potencial anti-Alzheimer em Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia in the elderly, affecting cognitive, intellectual, and motor functions. Different hypotheses explain the mechanisms of the AD, such the amyloidogenic hypothesis. Moreover, this disease is multifactorial, and several studies have shown that dysbiosis and oxidative stress influence its pathogenesis. Knowing that kefir is a probiotic used in therapies to restore dysbiosis and that the bioactive peptides present in it have antioxidant capacity, we explored its biotechnological potential as a source of molecules capable of modulating the amyloidogenic pathway and reducing oxidative stress, contributing to the treatment of AD. For that, we used Drosophila melanogaster model for AD (AD-like flies). Identification of BP in the kefir sample was made by proteomics and peptidomics analysis, followed by in vitro analysis of antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase inhibition potential. Flies were treated and their motor performance, brain morphology, and oxidative stress evaluated. Finally, we performed molecular docking between the peptides found and the main pathology-related proteins in the flies. The results showed that the fraction with the higher level of peptide concentration was positive for the parameters evaluated. In conclusion, these results revealed that kefir fractions have therapeutic potential for the treatment of AD.