nutrients Article Protocatechuic Acid Extends Survival, Improves Motor Function, Diminishes Gliosis, and Sustains Neuromuscular Junctions in the hSOD1G93A Mouse Model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Lilia A. Koza 1,2 , Aimee N. Winter 1, Jessica Holsopple 1, Angela N. Baybayon-Grandgeorge 1, Claudia Pena 1,2, Jeffrey R. Olson 1,2, Randall C. Mazzarino 1,2, David Patterson 1,2,3 and Daniel A. Linseman 1,2,3,* 1 Department of Biological Sciences, F. W. Olin Hall, Room 102, University of Denver, 2190 E. Iliff Ave, Denver, CO 80208, USA;
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[email protected] (D.P.) 2 Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging, Engineering Computer Science, Suite 579, University of Denver, 2155 E. Wesley Ave, Denver, CO 80208, USA 3 Eleanor Roosevelt Institute, University of Denver, 2101 E. Wesley Ave, Denver, CO 80210, USA * Correspondence:
[email protected]; Tel.: +1-(303)-871-4663 Received: 4 May 2020; Accepted: 15 June 2020; Published: 18 June 2020 Abstract: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating disorder characterized by motor neuron apoptosis and subsequent skeletal muscle atrophy caused by oxidative and nitrosative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and neuroinflammation. Anthocyanins are polyphenolic compounds found in berries that possess neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties. Protocatechuic acid (PCA) is a phenolic acid metabolite of the parent anthocyanin, kuromanin, found in blackberries and bilberries.