Cajaninstilbene Acid Prevents Corticosterone-Induced Apoptosis in PC12 Cells by Inhibiting the Mitochondrial Apoptotic Pathway

• Main Authors: Bao-Ping Jiang, Ya-Min Liu, Liang Le, Zong-Yang Li, Jian-Yong Si, Xin-Min Liu, Qi Chang, Rui-Le Pan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cell Physiol Biochem Press GmbH & Co KG 2014-09-01
• Series: Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry
• Subjects: Cajaninstilbene acid; Corticosterone; Mitochondrial apoptotic pathway; PC12 cells
• Online Access: http://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/366317
• ISSN: 1015-8987; 1421-9778

Background/Aims: Cajaninstilbene acid (3-hydroxy-4-prenyl-5-methoxystilben-2 -carboxylic acid, CSA), a natural stilbene isolated from the leaves of Cajanus cajan, has attracted considerable attention for its wide range of pharmacological activities. This study investigated whether CSA protects against corticosterone (CORT)-induced injury in PC12 cells and examined the potential mechanisms underlying this protective effect. Methods: Cell viability and cytotoxicity were detected using a 3-(4,5-desethyithiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and a lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay kit, respectively. PC12 cell apoptosis was measured using Hoechst 33342 staining and a DNA fragmentation assay kit, and intracellular Ca2+ concentrations were assessed by fluorescent labelling. Next, the mitochondrial permeability transition pores (mPTPs) and mitochondrial membrane potentials (∆Ψm) were detected using a colorimetric mPTP detection kit and a 5,5',6,6'-tetrachloro-1,1',3,3'- tetraethylbenzimidazolyl-carbocyanine iodide (JC-1) kit, respectively. Finally, cytochrome c, caspase-3 and inhibitor of caspase-activated deoxyribonuclease (ICAD) expression levels were monitored by western blot analysis. Results: Treatment with 100 µmol/l CORT induced cytotoxicity in PC12 cells. However, CSA dose-dependently increased cell viability and decreased LDH release as well as CORT-induced apoptosis. Mechanistically, compared with the CORT-treated group, CSA strongly attenuated intracellular Ca2+ overload and restored mitochondrial functions, including mPTPs and ∆Ψm. Furthermore, the down-regulation of cytochrome c and ICAD protein expression and the blockage of caspase-3 activity were observed upon CSA treatment. Conclusions: In summary, our data are the first to show that the in vitro antidepressant-like effect of CSA may be attributed to the cytoprotection of neurons and that such neuroprotective mechanisms are correlated with intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis and mitochondrial apoptotic pathways.