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Neuroprotective effect of N‐acetylcysteine on neuronal apoptosis induced by a synthetic gingerdione compound: Involvement of ERK and p38 phosphorylation
Author(s) -
Lin ChiaHo,
Kuo ShengChu,
Huang LiJiau,
Gean PoWu
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of neuroscience research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.72
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1097-4547
pISSN - 0360-4012
DOI - 10.1002/jnr.21047
Subject(s) - mapk/erk pathway , p38 mitogen activated protein kinases , neuroprotection , propidium iodide , viability assay , pharmacology , acetylcysteine , phosphorylation , apoptosis , tunel assay , kinase , programmed cell death , protein kinase a , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , biology , biochemistry , antioxidant
Besides being used as a spice, ginger has been applied in oriental medicine to ameliorate symptoms such as inflammatory, rheumatic disorders, and gastrointestinal discomforts. The effects of ginger on neuronal cells, however, have not been explored. We investigate the effect of 1‐(3,4‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐3,5‐dodecenedione (I 6 ), a derivative of gingerdione, on cultured cortical neurons. After a 5‐day maturation period in vitro, cortical neurons were treated with I 6 for 24 hr and cell viability was assessed using MTT assay. I 6 induced neuronal death in a concentration‐dependent manner. Hoechst 33342, propidium iodide (PI), and TUNEL staining confirmed that the reduced cell viability by I 6 was due to apoptosis. Pre‐treatment of cell with N‐acetylcysteine (NAC) prevented cell death in a concentration‐dependent manner. N‐acetylcysteine increased phosphorylated levels of p42 and p44 extracellular signal‐regulated kinases (ERKs). In parallel, farnesyltransferase and MEK inhibitors blocked ERK phosphorylation and neuroprotective effect of NAC. Unexpectedly, NAC also increased phosphorylated level of p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) and p38 specific inhibitors dose‐dependently attenuated the effect of NAC. Farnesyltransferase and MEK inhibitors completely abolished NAC‐induced p38 phosphorylation whereas p38 inhibitor did not influence NAC‐induced ERK phosphorylation. These results show that NAC serially activates ERKs and p38 MAPK, and ERKs and p38 work together to mediate the neuroprotective effect of NAC. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.