Molecular Chaperones and Protein Quality Control System in the Canine Model of Brain Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases

Aged dogs naturally develop cognitive dysfunction and represent a valuable spontaneous animal model for studying normal aging and neurodegeneration. Elderly canines also share neuropathological hallmarks similar to those observed in humans, especially Alzheimer’s disease-like pathology or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. In addition, pet dogs share similar living conditions and diets to humans. Increasing oxidative damage, as well as alterations of the intracellular protein quality control system, including ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) and Heat shock proteins (Hsp), have been observed in the brain of aged dogs. Thus, future researches carried out on the canine spontaneous model may be useful to define the involvement of age-related alterations in Hsp expression and UPS activity in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, as well as to perform translational antioxidant treatment/prevention studies. The possibility to design novel therapeutic approaches, including Hspbased therapies, may help to increase chaperone protection against proteotoxic stress occurring in human and canine brain during aging