Chronic neuroprotective effects of low concentration lithium on SH-SY5Y cells:possible involvement of stress proteins and gene expression

To investigate the molecular mechanism underlying the neuroprotective effect of lithium on cells, in this study, we exposed SH-SY5Y cells to 0.5 mmol/L lithium carbonate （Li2CO2） for 25-50 weeks and then detected the expression levels of some neurobiology related genes and post-translational modifications of stress proteins in SH-SYSY cells, cDNA arrays showed that pyruvate kinase 2 （PKM2） and calmodulin 3 （CaM 3） expression levels were significantly down-regulated, phosphatase protein PP2A expression was lightly down-regulated, and casein kinase II （CK2）, threonine/tyrosine phosphatase 7 （PYST2）, and dopamine beta-hydroxylase （DBH） expression levels were significantly up-regulated. Besides, western blot analysis of stress proteins （HSP27, HSP70, GRP78 and GRP94） showed an over-expression of two proteins： a 105 kDa protein which is a hyper-phosphorylated isoform of GRP94, and a 108 kDa protein which is a phosphorylated tetramer of HSP27. These results suggest that the neuroprotective effects of lithium are likely related to gene expressions and post-translational modifications of proteins cited above.

Potential antioxidant properties and hepatoprotective effects of Juniperus phoenicea berries against CCl4 induced hepatic damage in rats

Objective:To investigate the antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties of Juniperus phoenicea(J.phoenicea)berries against CCl_4-induced oxidative damage in rats.Methods:Hepatotoxicity was induced in albino Wistar rats by single dose of CCl_4 dissolved in olive oil(1 mL/kg BW,1/1 in olive oil,ip).Aqueous extract of J.phoenicea berries(AEJP)was administered at the dose of 250 mg/kg/day by gavage for 12 days.Results:Obtained results revealed that administration of CCl_4 caused a significant increase in plasma ASAT,ALAT,ALP and LDH activities and total bilirubin concentration,compared to the control group.While,albumin and total protein concentration were significantly lower.Additionally,a significant decrease in the level of hepatic GSH,GPx and GST activities associated with a significant increase of MDA content in CCl_4 group than those of the control.However,the treatment of experimental rats with AEJP prevented these alterations and maintained the antioxidant status.The histopathological observations supported the biochemical evidences of hepatoprotection.Conclusions:The results of the present investigation indicate that J.phoenicea possesses hepatoprotective activity and this effect was may be due to its antioxidant proprerties.