Antagonizing beta-amyloid peptide neurotoxicity of the anti-aging fungus Ganoderma lucidum.
Ganoderma lucidum (Leyss. ex Fr.) Karst. (Lingzhi) is a medicinal fungus used clinically in many Asian countries to promote health and longevity. Synaptic degeneration is another key mode of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recent studies have shown the loss of synaptic density proteins in each individual neuron during the progression of AD. It was recently reported that beta-amyloid (Abeta) could cause synaptic dysfunction and contribute to AD pathology. In this study, we reported that aqueous extract of G. lucidum significantly attenuated Abeta-induced synaptotoxicity by preserving the synaptic density protein, synaptophysin. In addition, G. lucidum aqueous extract antagonized Abeta-triggered DEVD cleavage activities in a dose-dependent manner. Further studies elucidated that phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase, c-Jun, and p38 MAP kinase was attenuated by G. lucidum in Abeta-stressed neurons. Taken together, the results prove a hypothesis that anti-aging G. lucidum can prevent harmful effects of the exterminating toxin Abeta in AD.
Lai
Cora Sau-Wan
CS
Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Anatomy, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
Yu
Man-Shan
MS
Yuen
Wai-Hung
WH
So
Kwok-Fai
KF
Zee
Sze-Yong
SY
Chang
Raymond Chuen-Chung
RC
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008518:Medicine, East Asian Traditional; D016501:Neurites / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020940:Reishi / Q000737:chemistry; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016708:Synaptophysin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D016708:Synaptophysin