Isoquercetin ameliorates tunicamycin-induced apoptosis in rat dorsal root ganglion neurons via suppressing ROS-dependent endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Recent studies showed that Isoquercetin (Iso), a novel extracts of plants and fruits could protect neuronal cells from neurotoxicity and neuro-inflammation. However, its role in acute spinal cord injury (ASCI) have not been elucidated. In the present study, we investigated whether Iso could prevent Tunicamycin (TUN)-induced rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons from apoptosis and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. DRG neurons were pre-treated with different doses of Iso for 24h (h) and then were stimulated with TUN (0.75μg/ml) for 24h. The cytotoxic effects and apoptosis were detected by MTT assay and TUNEL staining. The protein and mRNA expression levels were detected by Real Time PCR and Western blot, respectively. The localization of cleaved caspase-12 was evaluated by immunofluorescent staining and Western blot. The activation of caspase were measured by colorimetric assays and Western blot. Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) and Malondialdehyde (MDA) leakage were detected by the LDH or MDA Detection Kit PLUS. Iso protected TUN-associated DRG neurons from being damaged by cytotoxicity and apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Increased LDH and MDA leakage and proportion of TUNEL-positive cells, activation of caspase-3 and -9, increased Bcl-2 Assaciated X protein (Bax)/B cell lymphoma/lewkmia-2 (Bcl-2) ratio and mRNA levels of p53 Upregulated Modulator Of Apoptosis (PUMA) and DP5, and mitochondrial Cytochrome c release. Additionally, Iso down-regulated mRNA levels of ER stress genes, such as glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), GRP94, C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), and cleaved caspase-12 in TUN-induced DRG neurons. Moreover, Iso blocked the activation of three key branches of unfolded protein response in DRG neurons, including phosphorylation of pancreatic ER stress kinase (PERK), eukaryotic initiation factor 2 alpha (eIF2α), inositol-requiring enzyme 1α (IRE1α), and transcription factor 6 (ATF6). Collectively, Iso prevented TUN-induced DRG neurons apoptosis by inhibiting mitochondrial and ER stress-associated apoptotic signaling cascades, suggesting that Iso possessed neuro-protective ability which could be beneficial in the prevention of ASCI.

Lu T ，Zhang C ，Chai M ，An Y ... -  《-》

Wogonin protects rat dorsal root ganglion neurons against tunicamycin-induced ER stress through the PERK-eIF2α-ATF4 signaling pathway.

Chen F ，Wu R ，Zhu Z ，Yin W ，Xiong M ，Sun J ，Ni M ，Cai G ，Zhang X ... -  《-》

CSTMP induces apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction in human myeloma RPMI8226 cells via CHOP-dependent endoplasmic reticulum stress.

The natural product tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) and resveratrol have a variety of biologic activities, including anti-cancer effects. However the pharmacological function of CSTMP (a newly designed and synthesized TMP and resveratrol derivative) in cancer have not been elucidated. In RPMI8226 cells, the cytotoxic effects and apoptosis were detected by MTT and Double staining for Annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide (PI). The protein and mRNA expression levels were detected by Real Time PCR and Western blot, respectively. The localization of cleaved caspase-12 was evaluated by immunofluorescent staining. The activation of caspase were measured by colorimetric assays and Western blot. CSTMP showed significantly cytotoxic effects and induced apoptosis in RPMI8226 cells. Caspase activation, Cytochrome c release and Bax, Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL levels analyses demonstrated that the anti-cancer effect of CSTMP in RPMI8226 cells was mediated by promoting caspase- and mitochondria-dependent apoptosis. In addition, CSTMP induced the increased expression of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress related proteins (CHOP, GRP78, GRP94 and cleaved caspase-12) and the activation of multiple branches of ER stress transducers (PERK-eIF2α, IRE1α and ATF6). Moreover, knockdown of CHOP by siRNA markedly inhibited CSTMP-induced cytotoxic effects, caspases activity and mitochondrial dysfunction in RPMI8226 cells. Our results indicated that CSTMP could induce apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction in RPMI8226 cells via CHOP-dependent ER stress.

Sun X ，Liao W ，Wang J ，Wang P ，Gao H ，Wang M ，Xu C ，Zhong Y ，Ding Y ... -  《-》

Madecassic Acid protects against hypoxia-induced oxidative stress in retinal microvascular endothelial cells via ROS-mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Madecassic acid (MA) is an abundant triterpenoid in Centella asiatica (L.) Urban. (Apiaceae) that has been used as a wound-healing, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer agent. Up to now, the effects of MA against oxidative stress remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of MA and its mechanisms on hypoxia-induced human Retinal Microvascular Endothelial Cells (hRMECs). hRMECs were pre-treated with different concentrations of MA (0-50μM) for 30min before being incubated under hypoxia condition (37°C, 5% CO2 and 95% N2). Cell apoptosis was evaluated with MTT assay and TUNEL staining, and the expression of apoptosis- and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related molecules was assessed with western blotting and RT-PCR analysis. Intracellular ROS level was evaluated using DCFH-DA. Intracellular malondialdehyde (MDA), dehydrogenase (LDH), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were evaluated using related Kits. Activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) nuclear translocation was assessed with western blotting analysis and immunofluorescence staining. MA significantly reduced oxidative stress in hypoxia-induced hRMECs, as shown by increased cell viability, SOD and GSH-PX leakage, decreased TUNEL- and ROS-positive cell ratio, LDH and MDA leakage, caspase-3 and -9 activity, and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. In addition, MA also attenuated hypoxia-induced ER stress in hRMECs, as shown by reduced mRNA levels of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), C/EBP homologous transcription factor (CHOP), protein levels of cleaved activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6) and inositol-requiring kinase/endonuclease 1 alpha (IRE1α), phosphorylation of pancreatic ER stress kinase (PERK) and eukaryotic initiation factor 2 alpha (eIF2α), cleaved caspase-12 and ATF4 translocation to nucleus. The current study indicated that the regulation of oxidative stress and ER stress by MA would be a promising therapy to reverse the process and development of hypoxia-induced hRMECs dysfunction.

Yang B ，Xu Y ，Hu Y ，Luo Y ，Lu X ，Tsui CK ，Lu L ，Liang X ... -  《-》

TUDCA protects against tunicamycin-induced apoptosis of dorsal root ganglion neurons by suppressing activation of ER stress.

The existence of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in neurodegenerative diseases has been well established. Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) is a bile acid taurine conjugate derived from ursodeoxycholic acid, which has been reported to exert cytoprotective effects on several types of cells by inhibiting ER stress. The present study explored the effects of TUDCA on primary cultured rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. Cell viability and apoptosis of DRG neurons treated with TUDCA and tunicamycin were detected by CellTiter-Blue assay and TUNEL staining, respectively. The protein levels and phosphorylation of apoptosis and ERS-related signaling pathway molecules were detected by western blot, and the mRNA levels of related genes were assessed by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. Notably, TUDCA had no significant cytotoxic effect on DRG neurons at concentrations ≤250 µM. In addition, the apoptosis induced by tunicamycin exposure was markedly suppressed by TUDCA, as indicated by the percentage of TUNEL-positive cells, the activities of caspases and the changes in expression levels of critical apoptosis factors. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity of tunicamycin in DRG neurons was accompanied by an increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) content, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) production, and a decrease in glutathione (GSH) levels. The changes in oxidative stress-related factors (ROS, LDH, MDA and GSH) were reversed by TUDCA. Furthermore, as determined by western blotting, the increase in C/EBP homologous protein, glucose-regulated protein 78 and cleaved caspase-12 expression following tunicamycin treatment suggested the activation of ER stress. Downregulation of ER stress components and unfolded protein response sensors by TUDCA confirmed the implication of ER stress in the effects of TUDCA on DRG neurons. In conclusion, the present study indicated that TUDCA may protect against tunicamycin-induced DRG apoptosis by suppressing the activation of ER stress. The protective effect and the therapeutic value of TUDCA in nervous system injury require further study in animal models.

Chen F ，Ge Z ，Li N ，Yu Z ，Wu R ，Zhao Y ，He X ，Cai G ... -  《-》