title: Inhibition of ethanol-induced toxicity by tanshinone IIA in PC12 cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effects of tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) on the neurotoxicity induced by ethanol in PC12 cells and to explore its protective role.
  
  
  METHODS
  PC12 cell survival was measured by MTT assay. The formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release were detected by 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin (DCF) fluorescence and calorimetric method, respectively. The percentage of cell apoptosis was monitored by flow cytometry. The expression of p53 was detected by immuno-fluorescence and flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ethanol significantly impaired the survival of PC12 cells as demonstrated by MTT assay. Ethanol also induced significant ROS formation and increased LDH release. Pre-incubation with Tan IIA in the culture medium significantly reversed these changes. Ethanol caused cell apoptosis and the upregulation of p53 protein. The anti-apoptosis effects of Tan IIA on ethanol-induced toxicity were accompanied by the downregulation of pro-apoptotic p53 protein expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tan IIA can protect neurons from apoptosis and might serve as a potential therapeutic drug for neurological disorders induced by ethanol.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
authors.forename: Xian-Fang
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Xiao-Jing
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Xin-Min
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D045784:Abietanes; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D000431:Ethanol; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016716:PC12 Cells; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D027561:Salvia miltiorrhiza / Q000737:chemistry; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D045784:Abietanes; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010616:Phenanthrenes; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; C021751:tanshinone; D000431:Ethanol; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase