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Icariin protects SH-SY5Y cells from formaldehyde-induced injury through suppression of Tau phosphorylation

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Abstract

Objective

To investigate the neuroprotective effects of icariin on formaldehyde (FA)-treated human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells and the possible mechanisms involved.

Methods

SH-SY5Y cells were divided into FA treatment group, FA treatment group with icariin, and the control group. Cell viability, apoptosis, and morphological changes were determined by cell counting kit-8 (CCK 8), flow cytometry, and confocal microscopy, respectively. The phosphorylation of Tau protein was examined by western blotting.

Results

FA showed a half lethal dose (LD50) of 0.3 mmol/L in SH-SY5Y cells under the experimental conditions. Icariin (1–10 µmol/L) prevented FA-induced cell death in SH-SY5Y cells in a dose-dependent manner, with the optimal effect observed at 5 µmol/L. After FA treatment, the absorbance in FA group was 1.31±0.05, while in the group of icariin (5 µmol/L) was 1.63±0.05. Examination of cell morphology by confocal microscopy demonstrated that 5 µmol/L icariin significantly attenuated FA-induced cell injury (P <0.05). Additionally, Icariin inhibited FA-induced cell apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells. Results from western blotting showed that icariin suppressed FA-induced phosphorylation at Thr 181 and Ser 396 of Tau protein, while having no effect on the expression of the total Tau protein level. Furthermore, FA activated Tau kinase glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK-3β) by enhancement of Y216 phosphorylation, but icariin reduced Y216 phosphorylation and increased Ser 9 phosphorylation.

Conclusion

Icariin protects SH-SY5Y cells from FA-induced injury poßsibly through the inhibition of GSK-3β-mediated Tau phosphorylation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Integrated Laboratory of Chinese and Western Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, 100034, China

    Yi-xiang Song  (宋宜祥), Xue-mei Wang  (王学美) & Wei-wei Li  (黎巍威)

  2. State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China

    Jun-ye Miao  (苗君叶), Min Qiang  (强 敏) & Rong-qiao He  (赫荣乔)

Authors
  1. Yi-xiang Song  (宋宜祥)
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  2. Jun-ye Miao  (苗君叶)
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  3. Min Qiang  (强 敏)
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  4. Rong-qiao He  (赫荣乔)
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  5. Xue-mei Wang  (王学美)
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  6. Wei-wei Li  (黎巍威)
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wei-wei Li  (黎巍威).

Additional information

Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81102683 and No. 81173369), the Doctoral Fellowships of Ministry of Education of China (No. 20120001110105 and No. 20110001120055) and Beijing Natural Science Foundation (No. 7132210 )

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Song, Yx., Miao, Jy., Qiang, M. et al. Icariin protects SH-SY5Y cells from formaldehyde-induced injury through suppression of Tau phosphorylation. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 22, 430–437 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-015-2116-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-015-2116-3

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