The ubiquitin-proteasome system modifies different cellular and protein functions. Its dysregulation may lead to disrupted proteostasis associated with multiple pathologies and aging. Pharmacological regulation of proteasome functions is already an important part of the treatment of several diseases. 1,4-dihydropyridine (1,4-DHP) derivatives possess different pharmacological activities, including antiaging and neuroprotective. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of several 1,4-DHP derivatives on mRNA expression levels of proteasomal genes , and in several organs of rats. Rats were treated with metcarbatone, etcarbatone, glutapyrone, styrylcarbatone, AV-153-Na, or AV-153-Ca for three days. mRNA expression levels were determined with real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). For AV-153-Na and AV-153-Ca, we also determined the expression of the gene. In the kidney, metcarbatone, etcarbatone, styrylcarbatone, and AV-153-Na increased the expression of all analysed genes. Glutapyrone increased the expression of and but did not affect the expression of . In the blood, glutapyrone increased expression. In the liver, AV-153-Na increased the expression of and but lowered the expression of , while AV-153-Ca only increased expression. The ability of 1,4-DHP derivatives to increase the expression of proteasome subunit genes might hold a therapeutic potential in conditions associated with impaired proteasomal functions, but further research is needed.
© 2021 Kristīne Dišlere, Evita Rostoka, Egils Bisenieks, Gunars Duburs, Natalia Paramonova, and Nikolajs Sjakste, published by Sciendo.

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