title: [Protective effect of adeno-associated viral vector-mediated expression of human brain-derived neurotrophic factor in rat neurons against beta-amyloid-induced Alzheimer's disease in vitro].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To achieve expression of human brain-derived neurotrophic factor (hBDNF) mediated by recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) and explore the mechanism of its neuroprotective effects in rat neurons against beta-amyloid-induced Alzheimer's disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using molecular cloning technique, rAAV vector containing hBDNF gene (AAV-hBDNF) was constructed to transfect SD rat hippocampal neurons exposed to beta-amyloid treatment. The changes in cell apoptosis were observed by MTT assay and flow cytometry, and the expression of hBDNF and Bcl-2 protein were determined by immunocytochemical staining. Laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) was used to observe the changes of [Ca(2+)](i).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cultured rat hippocampal neurons were effectively transfected with AAV-hBDNF and expression of BDNF protein was obviously increased. hBNDF expression showed significant protective effects against beta-amyloid-induced neuronal damage, and the expression of Bcl-2 protein was increased significantly and the balance of [Ca(2+)](i) was maintained in BDNF-treated cells with beta-amyloid exposure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  hBDNF expression can effectively protect cultured rat hippocampal cells from beta-amyloid-induced apoptosis through inhibiting the intracellular calcium overload and increasing the expression of Bcl-2 protein.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Histology-Embryology, Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related of Disease, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China.
authors.forename: Zhao-hui
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Dong-liang
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Yan-bing
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Hai-tao
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000229:Dependovirus / Q000235:genetics*; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2