Protective effect of erythropoietin against 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium-induced neurodegenaration in PC12 cells

Objective The neuroprotective effect of erythropoietin （EPO） against 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium （MPP^＋）- induced oxidative stress in cultured PC12 cells, as well as the underlying mechanism, were investigated. Methods PC12 ceils impaired by MPP^＋ were used as the cell model of Parkinson＇s disease. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium （MTT） was used to assay the viability of the PC12 cells exposed to gradient concentrations of EPO, and the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labelling （TUNEL） assay was used to analyze the apoptosis ratio of PC 12 cells. The expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in PC 12 cells were examined by Western blot, and the reactive oxygen species （ROS）, the mitochondrial transmembrane potential and the activity of caspase-3 in each group were detected by spectrofluorometer. Results Treatment of PC12 cells with MPP^＋ caused the loss of cell viability, which may be associated with the elevation in apoptotic rate, the formation of ROS and the disruption of mitochondrial transmembrane potential. It was also shown that MPP＋ significantly induced the upregulation of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and the activation of caspase-3. In contrast, EPO significantly reversed these responses and had the maximum protective effect at 1 U/mL. Conclusion The inhibitive effect of EPO on the MPP^＋ -induced cytotoxicity may be ascribed to its anti-oxidative property and anti-apoptotic activity, and EPO may provide a useful therapeutic strategy for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson＇s disease.

Pegylated interferon-alpha plus taurine in treatment of rat liver fibrosis

AIM: To investigate the antif ibrotic effects of peginterferon- alpha 2b and taurine on oxidative stress markers and hepatocellular apoptosis. METHODS: Sixty rats with CCl4-induced liver fibrosis were divided into 4 groups (n = 15). Group 1 was left for spontaneous recovery (SR). Groups 2-4 received peginterferon-alpha 2b, taurine, and their combination, respectively, for four weeks. Histological f ibrosis scores, histomorphometric analysis, tissue hydroxyproline, tissue MDA, GPx and SOD activities were determined. Activated stellate cells and hepatocellular apoptosis were also evaluated. RESULTS: The degree of f ibrosis decreased in all treatment groups compared to spontaneous recovery group. Taurine alone and in combination with peginterferon-alpha 2b reduced oxidative stress markers, but peginterferon-alpha 2b alone did not. Apoptotic hepatocytes and activated stellate cells were higher in groups 2-4 than in group 1. Combined taurine and peginterferon-alpha 2b further reduced fibrosis and increased activated stellate cell apoptosis, but could not improve oxidative stress more than taurine alone.CONCLUSION: Peginterferon-alpha 2b exerts anti- f ibrotic effects on rat liver fibrosis. It seems ineffective against oxidative stress in vivo. Peginterferon-alpha 2b in combination with taurine seems to be an antif ibrotic strategy.

Pretreatment with Lithospermic Acid Attenuates Oxidative Stress-induced Apoptosis in Bone Marrow-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells via Anti-oxidation and Activation of PI3K/Akt Pathway

Objective Despite the potential therapeutic approaches of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs)in orthopaedic,their applications are hampered by harsh oxidative stress conditions after transplantation.In this study,the antiapoptotic and anti-oxidative properties of lithospermic acid(LSA)on BMSCs exposed to hydrogen peroxide(H2O2)were investigated.Methods In the present study,we used H2O2 to induce oxidative injury on BMSCs.Reactive oxygen species(ROS)staining and superoxide dismutase(SOD)assay were performed.The expression levels of phosphorylated(p)-Akt,Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax)and B-cell lymphoma 2(Bcl-2)were measured by Western blotting.Results LSA can significantly reduce H2O2-induced chromatin condensation and intracellular ROS levels,enhance the activity of SOD.Moreover,it can alleviate H2O2-induced apoptosis by upregulating Bcl-2 and p-Akt,down-regulating Bax,which was blocked by the PI3K inhibitor,LY294002.Conclusions Our results demonstrated that pretreatment with LSA could attenuate oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in BMSCs,which may be related with anti-oxidant properties and partly via modulating PI3K/Akt pathway,suggesting that pharmacologically manipulating BMSCs with LSA could be a promising drug to increase cell survival for BMSCs transplantation in musculoskeletal disorders of orthopaedic.

Antioxidative and antiapoptotic effects of （＋）-clausenamide on acetaminophen-induced nephrotoxicity in mice

Objective： （＋）-Clausenamide （（＋）-CLA）, the active ingredient of wampee, was isolated from the leaves of Clausena lansium （Lour.） Skeels. This study aimed to evaluate the protective potential of （＋）-CLA against acetaminophen （APAP）-induced nephrotoxicity in mice. Methods： Mice were divided into control, APAP, high-dose （＋）-CLA, and low-dose （＋）-CLA groups. Then, mice were preadministered （＋）-CLA （50 and 100 mg/kg） for 5 consecutive days. After the last treatment, the animals received a single intraperitoneal injection of APAP （600 mg/kg）. Renal histopathology was evaluated by staining with hematoxylin and eosin. The levels of malondialdehyde （MDA） and glutathione （GSH） and the activities of catalase （CAT） and superoxide dismutase （SOD） were determined using corresponding kits. Western blotting was used to analyze the expression of apoptosis-related proteins in renal tissue. Results： Administration of APAP increased serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels in comparison with the control group. An increase in renal MDA level, depletion of GSH, and reductions in CAT and SOD activities in renal tissue indicated that APAP-induced kidney injury was mediated by oxidative stress. The expressions of Bax and caspase-3, cleavage of caspase-3, and cytoplasm cytochrome c levels were up-regulated in renal tissue, whereas Bcl-2 expression and mitochondrial cytochrome c levels were down-regulated in the APAP group, which revealed that APAP-induced kidney injury significantly increased cell apoptosis in renal tubules. The histopathology of kidney tissue supported these biochemical mechanisms. （＋）-CLA can reverse changes in most of the abovementioned parameters and nearly restore the normal structure of the kidney. Conclusion： Oxidative stress and apoptosis are considered to be the mechanisms underlying APAP-induced nephrotoxicity. （＋）-CLA could be a promising antidote for APAP-induced acute renal damage owing to its antioxidative and antiapoptotic effects.

原儿茶醛对环磷酰胺诱导急性肾损伤的保护作用及机制研究

目的研究原儿茶醛对环磷酰胺(CTX)所致急性肾损伤的预防作用及其机制。方法将24只SPF级雄性昆明种小鼠随机分为对照组、模型组及原儿茶醛低、高剂量(15、30mg·kg^(-1))组,每组各6只。对照组和模型组ig给予0.9%氯化钠溶液,原儿茶醛低、高剂量组每日1次ig对应药物。连续给药14d,末次给药1h后,除对照组外,其余各组单次ip给药CTX(200mg·kg^(-1))。次日,在称体质量麻醉后取血和肾脏,分离血清,检测小鼠血清肌酐(CRE)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)等生化指标;采用苏木素-伊红(HE)染色观察肾脏病理损伤情况;采用荧光染色检测小鼠肾脏TUNEL的表达情况;采用Westernblotting检测B淋巴细胞瘤2(Bcl-2)和Bcl-2相关X蛋白(BAX)等凋亡相关蛋白的表达情况。结果与对照组比较,模型组小鼠的肾脏指数显著降低(P<0.01);血清CRE水平显著升高(P<0.001);血清SOD、CAT、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)水平显著降低(P<0.05、0.01、0.001),丙二醛(MDA)水平显著升高(P<0.01);模型组小鼠肾脏细胞排列错乱、可见明显的炎症细胞浸润,伴随肾小管空泡变性和肾小管扩张;模型组小鼠肾脏TUNEL阳性表达显著增多(P<0.001);且肾脏天冬氨酸特异性半胱氨酸蛋白酶3(Caspase-3)和Bcl-2的表达显著下降(P<0.01、0.001),而cleaved-Caspase3、BAX蛋白的表达显著上升(P<0.01、0.001)。与模型组比较,原儿茶醛低、高剂量组小鼠肾脏指数均显著增加(P<0.05);原儿茶醛高剂量组小鼠血清中的CRE水平明显降低(P<0.001);原儿茶醛低、高剂量组小鼠血清中SOD、CAT、GSH-Px水平显著上升(P<0.05、0.01、0.001),MDA水平显著下降(P<0.05;原儿茶醛低、高剂量组肾脏组织细胞排列比较规整,炎症细胞浸润及肾小管空泡变性和肾小管扩张等病理改变少见;原儿茶醛低、高剂量组肾脏TUNEL阳性表达有所下降(P<0.01、0.001),Caspase-3和Bcl-2蛋白表达显著上升(P<0.05、0.01、0.001)),cleaved-Caspase-3和BAX蛋白表达显著下降(P<0.01、0.001),呈剂量相关性。结论原儿茶醛可预防CTX所致急性肾损伤,其机制可能与抗细胞凋亡有关。

Protective effects of edaravone against cobalt chloride-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells

Objective To investigate the neuroprotective effects of edaravone （Eda） on cobalt chloride （CoCl2）-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in cultured PC12 cells as well as the underlying mechanisms. Methods PC12 ceils impaired by COCl2 were used as the cell model of hypoxia. MTT （methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium） was used to assay the viability of the PC12 ceils exposed to Eda with gradient concentrations; Hochest 33258 stain assay was used to analyze the apoptosis ratio of the PC12 cells; Bcl-2 and Bax protein levels in PC12 cells were examined by western blotting. ROS level, the mitochondrial transmembrane potential and caspase-3 activity in each group were detected by spectrofluorometer. Results COCl2 treatment caused the loss of cell viability in PC12 cells, which was associated with the elevation of apoptotic rate, the formation of ROS and the disruption of mitochondrial transmembrane potential. COCl2 also significantly induced the upregulation of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and the activation of caspase-3. In contrast, Eda significantly reversed these phenotypes, with its maximum protective effect at 0.1 μmol/L. Conclusion These results indicated that Eda could protect PC12 cells from CoCl2-induced cytotoxicity, and this protection might be ascribed to its anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic activities.

Protective effects of 20-hydroxyecdysone on H_2 O_2-induced cytotoxicity in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible protective effects and mechanisms of 20-hydroxyecdysone, an insect steroid hormone, on HEO2-induced cytotoxicity in human neuroblastoma SH-SYSY cells. Pretreatment with 20-hydroxyecdysone significantly elevated the cell viability and decreased LDH leakage in H2O2-treated SH-SY5Y cells. 20-Hydroxyecdysone also dramatically reduced malondialdehyde （MDA） contents and enhanced the superoxide dismutase （SOD） activities under oxidative stress conditions. Furthermore, 20-hydroxyecdysone pretreatment inhibited apoptosis by decreasing the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and attenuating the activation of caspase-3. These results suggest that 20-hydroxyecdysone can protect SH-SYSY cells against H2O2-induced cytotoxicity and might potentially be used to treat neurodegenerative diseases induced by oxidative stress and anontosis.

Ginsenoside Rg1 ameliorates oxidative stress and myocardial apoptosis in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

We evaluated the cardioprotective effects of ginsenoside Rg1 in a diabetic rat model induced with high-fat diet and intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. Ginsenoside Rg1 was injected intraperitoneal y for 12 weeks. Myocardial injury indices and oxidative stress markers were determined. Changes in cardiac ultrastructure were evaluated with transmission electron microscopy. Myocardial apoptosis was assessed via terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase （TDT）-mediated DNA nick-end labeling （TUNEL） and immunohistochemistry. Ginsenoside Rg1 was as-sociated with a significant dose-dependent reduction in serum levels of creatinine kinase MB and cardiac troponin I, and lessened ultrastructural disorders in diabetic myocardium, relative to the untreated diabetic model rats. Also, compared with the untreated diabetic rats, significant reductions in serum and myocardial levels of malondialdehyde were noted in the ginsenoside Rg1-treated groups, and increased levels of the antioxidants （superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase） were detected. TUNEL staining indicated reduced myocardial apoptosis in ginsenoside Rg1-treated rats, which may be associated with reduced levels of caspase-3 （CASP3） and increased levels of B-cell lymphoma-extra-large （Bcl-xL） in the diabetic myocardium. Ginsenoside Rg1 treatment of diabetic rats was associated with reduced oxidative stress and attenuated myocardial apoptosis, suggesting that ginsenoside Rg1 may be of potential preventative and therapeutic value for cardiovascular injury in diabetic patients.

RGFP966 inactivation of the YAP pathway attenuates cardiac dysfunction induced by prolonged hypothermic preservation

Oxidative stress and apoptosis are the key factors that limit the hypothermic preservation time of donor hearts to within 4–6 h.The aim of this study was to investigate whether the histone deacetylase 3(HDAC3)inhibitor RmGodFyPn9 a6 m6 i cc opualrda mpreotteercst daugrianing srt ecpaerrdfiuasci oinn juwreyr ei nedvuacleuda tebyd.pTrholeo nexgperde shsyipoont haenrdm pich opsrpehsoerryvlaattiioonn.leRvaet lsh eoaf rtms awmemrea lihayn-??STE20-like kinase-1(Mst1)and Yes-associated protein(YAP)were determined by western blotting.Cell apoptosis was measured by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl-transferase(TdT)-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling(TUNEL)method.Addition of RGFP966 in Celsior solution significantly inhibited cardiac dysfunction induced by hypothermic preservation.RGFP966 inhibited the hypothermic preservation-induced increase of the phosphorylated(p)-Mst1/Mst1 and p-YAP/YAP ratios,prevented a reduction in total YAP protein expression,and increased the nuclear YAP protein level.Verteporfin(VP),a small molecular inhibitor of YAP–transcriptional enhanced associate domain(TEAD)interaction,partially abolished the protective effect of RGFP966 on cardiac function,and reduced lactate dehydrogenase activity and malondialdehyde content.RGFP966 increased superoxide dismutase,catalase,and glutathione peroxidase gene and protein expression,which was abolished by VP.RGFP966 inhibited hypothermic preservation-induced overexpression of B-cell lymphoma protein 2(Bcl-2)-associated X(Bax)and cleaved caspase-3,increased Bcl-2 mRNA and protein expression,and reduced cardiomyocyte apoptosis.The antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effects of RGFP966 were cancelled by VP.The results suggest that supplementation of Celsior solution with RGFP966 attenuated prolonged hypothermic preservation-induced cardiac dysfunction.The mechanism may involve inhibition of oxidative stress and apoptosis via inactivation of the YAP pathway.

Protective effects of Polygonatum sibiricum against CCl_(4)-induced acute liver injury in rats through oxidative stress and mitochondrial apoptotic pathways

In the present study,we aimed to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of Chinese herbal medicine Polygonatum sibiricum(PS).In this study,a rat acute liver injury(ALI)model was established by a single intraperitoneal injection of 50%CCl_(4) oil solution,and the rats were treated intragastrically with Polygonatum sibiricum aqueous extract(PSAE).The results showed that PSAE significantly decreased the serum levels of ALT,AST and ALP,increased the activities of glutathione(GSH)and superoxide dismutase(SOD),decreased malondialdehyde(MDA)activity in hepatic tissue,and decreased the reactive oxygen species(ROS)level in hepatocytes.The expressions of Nrf2,NQO-1,HO-1,Bcl-2,Bcl-x L mRNA,and HO-1 proteins were elevated,and the expression of p53 mRNA was decreased.In conclusion,PSAE exerted a powerful protective action against CCl_(4)-induced ALI in rats via effectively regulating the expressions of Nrf2-Keap1-ARE related genes and proteins,and inhibiting hepatocyte apoptosis.These outcomes provided evidence that PS had apparent hepatoprotective effect.

Au nanoclusters suppress chronic lymphocytic leukaemia cells by inhibiting thioredoxin reductase 1 to induce intracellular oxidative stress and apoptosis

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia （CLL） is a rare blood cancer that always relapses as refractory disease and eventually leads to death. To date, therapeutic options for CLL patients are scarce and there is an urgent need to develop novel chemotherapeutics that are both effective and safe. Gold-containing compounds induce a lethal oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress response in cultured and primary CLL cells via inhibition of thioredoxin reductase （TrxR）. However, traditional gold-containing medicines have revealed side effects during clinical applications. Therefore, safer gold-containing drugs are needed to overcome this challenge. In this study, a novel peptide templated gold cluster Au2sSv9 was synthesized and its therapeutic effect on CLL cells was evaluated. This nanocluster could induce cell apoptosis in MEC-1 cells in a dose-dependent manner which correlated with the uptake amount of clusters in cells. As expected, increasing intracellular reactive oxidative species （ROS） in MEC-1 cells was exhibited with the increase of cluster dosage. Further analyses demonstrated the underlying mechanism that the nan- oclusters suppress the activity ofTrxR1, increase the level of intracellular ROS, destroy the mitochondrial membrane potential and finally trigger the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway in MEC-1 cells. Furthermore, the direct interaction between Au2sSv9 clusters and TrxRl was confirmed for the first time by isothermal titration calorimetry. These findings explored the preclinical efficacy and potential mech- anism of gold clusters in CLL therapy and provided a fundamental reference for the development of other novel gold-containing chemotherapeutics to treat CLL.

Protective effects of methane-rich saline on mice with allergic asthma by inhibiting inflammatory response, oxidative stress and apoptosis

Background:Asthma is a common cause of breathing difficulty in children and adults,and is characterized by chronic airway inflammation that is poorly controlled by available treatments.This results in severe disability and applies a huge burden to the public health system.Methane has been demonstrated to function as a therapeutic agent in many diseases.The aim of the present study was to explore the effect of methane-rich saline(MRS)on the pathophysiology of a mouse model of asthma and its underlying mechanism.Methods:A murine model of ovalbumin(OVA)-induced allergic asthma was applied in this study.Mice were divided into three groups:a control group,an OVA group,and OVA-induced asthmatic mice treated with MRS as the third group.Lung resistance index(RI)and dynamic compliance(Cdyn)were measured to determine airway hyper-responsiveness(AHR).Haematoxylin and eosin(H&E)staining was performed and scored to show histopathological changes.Cell counts of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)were recorded.Cytokines interleukin(IL)-4,IL-5,IL-13,tumor necrosis factorα(TNF-α),and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 15(CXCL15)from BALF and serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The oxidative stress indexes,including malondialdehyde(MDA),superoxide dismutase(SOD),catalase(CAT),glutathione(GSH),myeloperoxidase(MPO),and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine(8-OHdG),were determined using commercial kits.Apoptosis was evaluated by western blot,quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR),and biochemical examination.Results:MRS administration reversed the OVA-induced AHR,attenuated the pathological inflammatory infiltration,and decreased the cytokines IL-4,IL-5,IL-13,TNF-α,and CXCL15 in serum and BALF.Moreover,following MRS administration,the oxidative stress was alleviated as indicated by decreased MDA,MPO,and 8-OHdG,and elevated SOD and GSH.In addition,MRS exhibited an anti-apoptotic effect in this model,protecting epithelial cells from damage.Conclusions:Methane improves pulmonary function and decreases infiltrative inflammatory cells in the allergic asthmatic mouse model.This may be associated with its anti-inflammatory,antioxidative,and anti-apoptotic properties.

Protective effects of β-dihydroagarofuran-type sesquiterpene against Aβ_(25-35)-induced neuronal apoptosis and oxidative damage

Excessive beta-amyloid （Aβ） plays a detrimental role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer＇s disease （AD）, which is closely associated with apoptosis and oxidative stress in neurons. Therefore, identification of active small molecules with potent effects on neutralizing Aβ-induced neurotoxicity would be a promising strategy for delaying or preventing AD progression. In the present study, we discovered that pretreatment with CF-1 （（1R,2S,4R,5S,7R,9S, IOS）-1,15-diacetoxy-2-benzoyloxy-9-cinnamoyloxy- β-di-hydroagarofuran）, a sesquiterpene isolated from the seeds of Celastrus flagellaris, attenuated Aβ25_35-induced reduction in cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner, as evaluated by the 3-（4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl）-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide （MTT） assay. Above neuroprotective effect of CF-1 was associated with a significant decrease of apoptotic cells as measured by 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole （DAPI） staining, which concurrently happened with marked inhibition in the level of cleaved Caspase-3, an apoptotic executive protein. CF-1 pretreatment also markedly reduced the intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species （ROS） following Aβ exposure in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, but such pretreatment had no notable influence on 2,2-diphenyl-l-picrylhydrazyl （DPPH） scavenging. In conclusion, we demonstrated that a novel natural product, CF-1, possessed promising effects against Aβ-induced neuronal apoptosis and oxidative stress, which could be a potential drug lead or candidate for the treatment of Aβ-associated neurotoxicity.

Study of Anti-Myocardial Cell Oxidative Stress Action and Effect of Tanshinone IIA on Prohibitin Expression

Objective:To investigate the protective action of tanshinone IIA (TSN) on myocardial apoptosis induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and its effect on prohibitin (PHB) expression to probe the role of PHB in the oxidation stress of myocardial cells. Methods: Primary cultured neonate rat myocardial cells were cultured with TSN (1×10-4 mol/L) for 24 hours, and then the medium was supplemented with 200 μmol/L hydrogen peroxide for 2 h to initiate myocardial cell oxidative stress injury. PHB in myocardial cells was knocked down by small interfering RNA (siRNA), and the expression level of PHB was determined by western blot analysis. Flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptosis rate, intracellular calcium ion concentration ([Ca2+]i) and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Results: The PHB expression, [Ca2+]i and the apoptotic rate significantly increased, and the MMP significantly decreased in the oxidative stress group compared with the control. The PHB expression, apoptosis rate and [Ca2+]i decreased, and MMP increased significantly in the TSN group compared with the oxidative stress group. Compared with the siRNA negative control group, the PHB expression level in myocardial cells was down-regulated, and the apoptosis rate and [Ca2+]i increased, and MMP decreased significantly in the siRNA group. Conclusion: TSN can reduce PHB expression in oxidative stress-injured myocardial cells hence protecting the myocardial cells.

The protective effect of W026B on global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury model in rats

Cerebral ischemia seriously affects the quality of life and health of human worldwide.W026B is a newly synthesized lignan derivative that has a protective effect on the focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion model,while it is unclear whether W026B has a cerebral protective effect on the model of global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion(GCI/R).In this study,we investigated the protective effect of W026B on the four-vessel occlusion GCI/R model.The results showed that W026B obviously increased the survival rate of rats during 7 d after GCI/R and significantly improved neurological deficits within 7 d after GCI/R.It evidently enhanced the number of survival neurons in the hippocampus of GCI/R rats.Furthermore,W026B notably lowered the level of ROS,and increased the activity of SOD in the hippocampus of GCI/R rats.Moreover,it also decreased the expression of NF-κB p65 and the level of IL-6 apparently.In addition,W026B evidently lowered the activity of caspase-3.In conclusion,this study firstly proves that W026B has the protective effect on GCI/R rats.Its cerebral protective effect maybe related to the inhibition of oxidative stress,inflammatory response,and cell apoptosis during GCI/R.These results provide new evidence with the protective effect of W026B on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.