title: Poria cocos water extract (PCW) protects PC12 neuronal cells from beta-amyloid-induced cell death through antioxidant and antiapoptotic functions.
abstract: Beta-amyloid (Abeta)-induced neurotoxicity is considered to be mediated through the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, the protective effects of Poria cocos water extract (PCW) against Abeta1-42-induced cell death were investigated using rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells. Exposure of PC12 cells to the Abeta1-42 (20 microM) for 48h resulted in neuronal cell death, whereas pretreatment with PCW at the concentration range of 5-125 microg/ml reduced Abeta1-42-induced cell death. In addition, PC12 cells treated with Abeta1-42 exhibited increased accumulation of intracellular oxidative damages and underwent apoptotic death as determined by characteristic morphological alterations and positive in situ terminal end-labeling (TUNEL staining). However, PCW attenuated Abeta1-42-induced cytotoxicity, apoptotic features, and accumulation of intracellular oxidative damage. Moreover, PCW (5 to 125 microg/ml) decreased expression of apoptotic protein Bax and activity of caspase-3, but enhanced expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. These results suggest that PCW may protect cells through suppressing the oxidative stress and the apoptosis induced by Abeta1-42, implying that PCW may be potential natural agents for Alzheimer's diseases.
authors.affiliation: INAM Neuroscience Research Center, Sanbon Medical Center, Wonkwang University, South Korea.
authors.forename: Yong-Hoon
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Il Hong
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Bokyung
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yeoung-Su
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lyu
authors.forename: Hyung-In
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Hyung-Won
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D016923:Cell Death; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D016716:PC12 Cells; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D055441:Poria / Q000737:chemistry*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C110656:2-(4-iodophenyl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-5-(2,4-disulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D000975:Antioxidants; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D053148:Caspase 3