Higenamine protects neuronal cells from oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation-induced injury.

Higenamine, a plant-based alkaloid, exhibits various properties, such as antiapoptotic and antioxidative effects. Previous studies proved that higenamine possesses potential therapeutic effects for ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injuries. However, the role of higenamine in cerebral I/R injury has not been fully evaluated. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effect of higenamine on cerebral I/R injury and the potential mechanism. Our data showed that higenamine ameliorated oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R)-induced neuronal cells injury. Induction of reactive oxygen species and malonaldehyde production, and the inhibition of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activity caused by OGD/R were attenuated by higenamine. In addition, higenamine inhibited the increases in caspase-3 activity and Bax expression, and inhibited the decrease in Bcl-2 expression. Furthermore, higenamine elevated the expression levels of p-Akt, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). The inhibitor of PI3K/Akt (LY294002) abolished the protective effects of higenamine on OGD/R-induced neuronal cells. These findings indicated that higenamine protects neuronal cells against OGD/R-induced injury by regulating the Akt and Nrf2/HO-1-signaling pathways. Collectively, higenamine might be considered as new strategy for the prevention and treatment of cerebral I/R injury.

Zhang Y ，Zhang J ，Wu C ，Guo S ，Su J ，Zhao W ，Xing H ... -  《-》

Higenamine reduces HMGB1 during hypoxia-induced brain injury by induction of heme oxygenase-1 through PI3K/Akt/Nrf-2 signal pathways.

Ha YM ，Kim MY ，Park MK ，Lee YS ，Kim YM ，Kim HJ ，Lee JH ，Chang KC ... -  《-》

Trigonelline protects hippocampal neurons from oxygen-glucose deprivation-induced injury through activating the PI3K/Akt pathway.

Trigonelline is a plant alkaloid that has generated interest for its neuroprotective roles in brain pathology. However, the protective effect of trigonelline on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and the potential mechanism have not been fully evaluated. Our results showed that trigonelline pretreatment ameliorated oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R)-induced hippocampal neurons injury. The OGD/R-caused reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and decreased concentrations of superoxide dismutases (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were markedly attenuated by trigonelline. In addition, the increased levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in OGD/R-induced hippocampal neurons were significantly decreased by trigonelline pretreatment. Trigonelline also suppressed caspase-3 activity and bax expression, and induced bcl-2 expression in OGD/R-induced hippocampal neurons. Furthermore, trigonelline induced the activation of PI3K/Akt pathway in hippocampal neurons exposed to OGD/R condition. Inhibition of PI3K/Akt signaling reversed the protective effects of trigonelline on OGD/R-induced hippocampal neurons injury. Taken together, these findings indicated that trigonelline protected hippocampal neurons from OGD/R-induced injury, which was mediated by the activation of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Qiu Z ，Wang K ，Jiang C ，Su Y ，Fan X ，Li J ，Xue S ，Yao L ... -  《-》

Diallyl trisufide protects against oxygen glucose deprivation -induced apoptosis by scavenging free radicals via the PI3K/Akt -mediated Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway in B35 neural cells.

Oxidative stress contributes to development of ischemic brain damage. Many antioxidants have been proven effective in ameliorating cerebral ischemia injury by inhibiting oxidative stress. DATS, an organosulfuric component of garlic oil, exhibits antioxidative effects. In present study, we used OGD model to investigate the neuroprotective effects of DATS and the mechanisms related to these effects. B35 neural cells exposed to OGD caused a decrease in cell viability and increases in the percentage of apoptotic cells and the level of intracellular cleaved caspase-3, all of which were markedly attenuated by DATS. Further, DATS treatment significantly increased Nrf2 expression and nuclear translocation, upregulated downstream gene HO-1 and inhibited intracellular ROS and MDA generation, all of which were markedly attenuated in cells transfected with Nrf2-specific siRNA. In addition, inhibition of PI3K/Akt signaling by PI3K-specific siRNA not only decreased the expression level of Nrf2 and HO-1 proteins, but also diminished the antioxidative and neuroprotective effect of DATS. Taken together, these results indicate that DATS protects B35 neural cells against OGD-induced cell injury by inhibiting ROS production via upregulating the PI3K/Akt-mediated Nrf2 pathway, which further activates HO-1. Based on our results, DATS may be a potential candidate for intervention in hypoxic-ischemic brain injuries such as stroke.

Xu XH ，Li GL ，Wang BA ，Qin Y ，Bai SR ，Rong J ，Deng T ，Li Q ... -  《-》

Isoquercetin attenuates oxidative stress and neuronal apoptosis after ischemia/reperfusion injury via Nrf2-mediated inhibition of the NOX4/ROS/NF-κB pathway.

Isoquercetin (Iso) has been found to have neuroprotective effects against cerebral ischemic stroke. However, the exact molecular mechanism underlying its neuroprotective ability remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of Iso in primary culture of rat hippocampal neurons exposed to oxygen and glucose deprivation and reperfusion (OGD/R) injury and in rats subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion (MCAO/R) injury. We found that rats treated with Iso exhibited a lower degree of infarct volume, and brain water content than the vehicle-treated rats. Treatment with Iso also improved the neurological deficits in MCAO/R rats as shown by the decreased modified neurological severity score. Iso treatment decreased the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) production, and increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in brains of MCAO/R rats and primary culture of rat hippocampal neurons exposed to OGD/R. Iso treatment prevents I/R-induced neuronal apoptosis in vivo and in vitro as indicated by increased cell viability and decreased number of TUNEL-positive cells, accompanying with downregulation of cleaved caspase-3 protein and upregulation of Bcl-2 protein. Moreover, Nrf2 knockdown weakened the anti-apoptotic and anti-oxidant activities of Iso in primary culture of rat hippocampal neurons exposed to OGD/R. Interestingly, we found that Iso could induce Nrf2 translocation from cytoplasm to nucleus in primary culture of rat hippocampal neurons exposed to OGD/R. Iso activated the NOX4/ROS/NF-κB signaling pathway in in vivo and in vitro cerebral I/R injury models. Nrf2 knockdown blocked the inhibitory effect of Iso on protein expression of NOX4, p-IκBα and p-p65 in primary culture of rat hippocampal neurons exposed to OGD/R. All the data suggested that Iso protected against oxidative stress and neuronal apoptosis in in vivo and in vitro cerebral I/R injury models via Nrf2-mediated inhibition of the NOX4/ROS/NF-κB signaling pathway. Our findings suggested that Iso could be a potential agent for I/R brain injury.

Dai Y ，Zhang H ，Zhang J ，Yan M ... -  《-》