Inhibitory Effects of 3-(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl) Propionic Acid on Amyloid β-Peptide Aggregation In Vitro

<b>Objectives</b>: The compound 3-(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl) propionic acid (HMPA) is a terminal metabolite derived from polyphenol compounds. It has been studied for its potential to support brain health indirectly through its anti-oxidant effects and ability to enhance the gut environ...

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Main Authors: Makoto Mori, Hiroto Nakano, Sadao Hikishima, Jota Minamikawa, Daiki Muramatsu, Yasuhiro Sakashita, Tokuhei Ikeda, Moeko Noguchi-Shinohara, Kenjiro Ono
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Biomedicines
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/7/1649
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author Makoto Mori
Hiroto Nakano
Sadao Hikishima
Jota Minamikawa
Daiki Muramatsu
Yasuhiro Sakashita
Tokuhei Ikeda
Moeko Noguchi-Shinohara
Kenjiro Ono
author_facet Makoto Mori
Hiroto Nakano
Sadao Hikishima
Jota Minamikawa
Daiki Muramatsu
Yasuhiro Sakashita
Tokuhei Ikeda
Moeko Noguchi-Shinohara
Kenjiro Ono
author_sort Makoto Mori
collection DOAJ
description <b>Objectives</b>: The compound 3-(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl) propionic acid (HMPA) is a terminal metabolite derived from polyphenol compounds. It has been studied for its potential to support brain health indirectly through its anti-oxidant effects and ability to enhance the gut environment; however, its role in dementia pathogenesis is unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate how HMPA inhibits Aβ42 aggregation in vitro. <b>Methods</b>: We examined the inhibitory effects of HMPA on amyloid-β protein (Aβ) aggregation using a thioflavin T (ThT) assay and electron microscopy (EM). <b>Results</b>: ThT assays demonstrated that HMPA inhibited both the nucleation and elongation phases of Aβ aggregation. Additionally, EM of low-molecular-weight (LMW) Aβ42 in the presence of HMPA demonstrated shorter fibrils compared to those formed without HMPA. The EC<sub>50</sub> of HMPA in LMW Aβ42 was 5–6 mM. <b>Conclusions</b>: These findings indicate that, similar to several polyphenol compounds such as myricetin and rosmarinic acid, HMPA may inhibit Aβ pathogenesis, although it requires a fairly high concentration in vitro. These findings suggest the potential of HMPA as a lead compound for modulating Aβ-related neurodegeneration.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2227-9059
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spelling doaj-art-ac05573ce3de4f19b86ef8564fd752232025-08-20T04:00:49ZengMDPI AGBiomedicines2227-90592025-07-01137164910.3390/biomedicines13071649Inhibitory Effects of 3-(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl) Propionic Acid on Amyloid β-Peptide Aggregation In VitroMakoto Mori0Hiroto Nakano1Sadao Hikishima2Jota Minamikawa3Daiki Muramatsu4Yasuhiro Sakashita5Tokuhei Ikeda6Moeko Noguchi-Shinohara7Kenjiro Ono8Department of Neurology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa 920-8640, JapanDepartment of Neurology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa 920-8640, JapanDepartment of Neurology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa 920-8640, JapanDepartment of Neurology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa 920-8640, JapanDepartment of Neurology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa 920-8640, JapanDepartment of Neurology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa 920-8640, JapanDepartment of Neurology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa 920-8640, JapanDepartment of Neurology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa 920-8640, JapanDepartment of Neurology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan<b>Objectives</b>: The compound 3-(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl) propionic acid (HMPA) is a terminal metabolite derived from polyphenol compounds. It has been studied for its potential to support brain health indirectly through its anti-oxidant effects and ability to enhance the gut environment; however, its role in dementia pathogenesis is unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate how HMPA inhibits Aβ42 aggregation in vitro. <b>Methods</b>: We examined the inhibitory effects of HMPA on amyloid-β protein (Aβ) aggregation using a thioflavin T (ThT) assay and electron microscopy (EM). <b>Results</b>: ThT assays demonstrated that HMPA inhibited both the nucleation and elongation phases of Aβ aggregation. Additionally, EM of low-molecular-weight (LMW) Aβ42 in the presence of HMPA demonstrated shorter fibrils compared to those formed without HMPA. The EC<sub>50</sub> of HMPA in LMW Aβ42 was 5–6 mM. <b>Conclusions</b>: These findings indicate that, similar to several polyphenol compounds such as myricetin and rosmarinic acid, HMPA may inhibit Aβ pathogenesis, although it requires a fairly high concentration in vitro. These findings suggest the potential of HMPA as a lead compound for modulating Aβ-related neurodegeneration.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/7/16493-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl) propionic acidamyloid β-proteinaggregationnucleationmature fibril Aβ seeds
spellingShingle Makoto Mori
Hiroto Nakano
Sadao Hikishima
Jota Minamikawa
Daiki Muramatsu
Yasuhiro Sakashita
Tokuhei Ikeda
Moeko Noguchi-Shinohara
Kenjiro Ono
Inhibitory Effects of 3-(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl) Propionic Acid on Amyloid β-Peptide Aggregation In Vitro
Biomedicines
3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl) propionic acid
amyloid β-protein
aggregation
nucleation
mature fibril Aβ seeds
title Inhibitory Effects of 3-(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl) Propionic Acid on Amyloid β-Peptide Aggregation In Vitro
title_full Inhibitory Effects of 3-(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl) Propionic Acid on Amyloid β-Peptide Aggregation In Vitro
title_fullStr Inhibitory Effects of 3-(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl) Propionic Acid on Amyloid β-Peptide Aggregation In Vitro
title_full_unstemmed Inhibitory Effects of 3-(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl) Propionic Acid on Amyloid β-Peptide Aggregation In Vitro
title_short Inhibitory Effects of 3-(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl) Propionic Acid on Amyloid β-Peptide Aggregation In Vitro
title_sort inhibitory effects of 3 4 hydroxy 3 methoxyphenyl propionic acid on amyloid β peptide aggregation in vitro
topic 3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl) propionic acid
amyloid β-protein
aggregation
nucleation
mature fibril Aβ seeds
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/7/1649
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