The endogenous cofactors, thioctic acid and dihydrolipoic acid, are neuroprotective against NMDA and malonic acid lesions of striatum

α‐Lipoic acid blocks HIV‐1 LTR‐dependent expression of hygromycin resistance in THP‐1 stable transformants

“…Using this new system, we could confirm the earlier reports of the efficacy of LA and NAC [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. LA and NAC have been shown to block the NF-~B-dependent gene expression by interfering with the signal transduction cascade leading to the activation of NF-~B [11][12][13][14][15][16][17].…”

“…The mechanism of action of both compounds is known to be through direct free radical scavenging actions on ROI. However, while NAC is believed to inhibit NF-~B and HIV replication by replenishing intracellular cysteine required to produce GSH [10][11][12], LA, on the other hand, has the ability to increase the total intracellular thiol levels [4,6]. The intracellular build-up of the oxidized LA, DHLA and increase in GSH levels due to E.A administration has been postulated to shift the redox status of the cell thus conceivably blocking the ROImediated NF-~cB activation.…”

“…This LA/DHLA redox couple has been shown to have potent antioxidant abilities as investigated in cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection [1], diabetes [2], diabetic polyneuropathy [3,4] and dermatitis [5]. LA and DHLA have also been observed to have neuroprotective capacity against direct and indirect excitotoxic insults [6], as well as protective effect toward oxidative hemolysis of human erythrocytes [7]. These documented effects of LA and DHLA have been mainly attributed to their intrinsic free radical-scavenging property [2,[6][7][8][9].…”

“…LA and DHLA have also been observed to have neuroprotective capacity against direct and indirect excitotoxic insults [6], as well as protective effect toward oxidative hemolysis of human erythrocytes [7]. These documented effects of LA and DHLA have been mainly attributed to their intrinsic free radical-scavenging property [2,[6][7][8][9]. It has been investigated by Matsugo et al [8] that the hydroxyl radical quenching activity of LA is a function of the disulfide bond in the dithiolane ring structure of the compound.…”

“…Another proposed mechanism of action of LA is the antioxidant's ability to chelate transition metals [3,8]. Other investigators further reported that LA can elevate the total level of the endogenous antioxidant, reduced glutathione (GSH), in some tissues and cell lines [4,6].…”