title: Ligusticum chuanxiong prevents rat pheochromocytoma cells from serum deprivation-induced apoptosis through a protein kinase A-dependent pathway.
abstract: Ligusticum chuanxiong (LC) is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine used to treat various cardiovascular diseases. In this study, the butanol extract of LC was found to protect neuronal-like pheochromocytoma cells from serum deprivation-induced apoptosis. Both a serine/threonine kinase inhibitor and a specific protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor blocked the protective effect of LC. A transcription inhibitor (actinomycin D) and a protein synthesis inhibitor (cyclohexamide) also attenuated the protective effect of LC, suggesting the requirement of gene expression for the protection of LC. On the other hand, LC increased both the formation of cyclic-AMP and the phosphorylation of the cyclic-AMP response element-binding protein (CREB), a downstream target of PKA and a nuclear transcription factor known for neuroprotective mechanism. Furthermore, LC-induced CREB phosphorylation and protective effect could be blocked by a PKA inhibitor and overexpression of the dominant negative CREB, respectively. Taken together, the protective mechanism of LC in antagonizing serum deprivation-induced PC12 cell apoptosis might be mediated through a PKA/CREB-dependent pathway.
authors.affiliation: National Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, No. 155-1, Li-Nung Street, Section 2, Shipai, Peitou, Taipei 112, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yun-Lian
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yi-Chao
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chuen-Lin
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Wen-Lin
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Yen-Ru
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Nai-Kuei
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D050882:CREB-Binding Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002227:Carbazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D026121:Indole Alkaloids; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000494:pharmacology; D030004:Ligusticum / Q000737:chemistry*; D016716:PC12 Cells; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D027343:Rhizome / Q000737:chemistry; D044967:Serum; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000494:pharmacology; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D002227:Carbazoles; D026121:Indole Alkaloids; D007546:Isoquinolines; D010936:Plant Extracts; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D013449:Sulfonamides; C049985:staurosporine aglycone; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D050882:CREB-Binding Protein; C494365:Crebbp protein, rat; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; C063509:N-(2-(4-bromocinnamylamino)ethyl)-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide