title: Neuroprotection of kaempferol by autophagy in models of rotenone-mediated acute toxicity: possible implications for Parkinson's disease.
abstract: This study aims to elucidate the processes underlying neuroprotection of kaempferol in models of rotenone-induced acute toxicity. We demonstrate that kaempferol, but not quercetin, myricetin or resveratrol, protects SH-SY5Y cells and primary neurons from rotenone toxicity, as a reduction of caspases cleavage and apoptotic nuclei are observed. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and mitochondrial carbonyls decrease significantly. Mitochondrial network, transmembrane potential and oxygen consumption are also deeply preserved. We demonstrate that the main event responsible for the kaempferol-mediated antiapoptotic and antioxidant effects is the enhancement of mitochondrial turnover by autophagy. Indeed, fluorescence and electron microscopy analyses show an increase of the mitochondrial fission rate and mitochondria-containing autophagosomes. Moreover, the autophagosome-bound microtubule-associated protein light chain-3 (LC3-II) increases during kaempferol treatment and chemical/genetic inhibitors of autophagy abolish kaempferol protective effects. Autophagy affords protection also toward other mitochondrial toxins (1-methyl-4-phenyilpiridinium, paraquat) used to reproduce the typical features of Parkinson's disease (PD), but is inefficient against apoptotic stimuli not directly affecting mitochondria (H(2)O(2), 6-hydroxydopamine, staurosporine). Striatal glutamatergic response of rat brain slices is also preserved by kaempferol, suggesting a more general protection of kaempferol in Parkinson's disease. Overall, the data provide further evidence for kaempferol to be identified as an autophagic enhancer with potential therapeutic capacity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Filomeni
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Graziani
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Zio
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dini
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Centonze
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rotilio
authors.forename: Maria R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Ciriolo
mesh_terms: D018750:6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001343:Autophagy / Q000187:drug effects*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007306:Insecticides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D044949:Kaempferols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects; D050050:Protein Carbonylation / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D012402:Rotenone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D007306:Insecticides; D044949:Kaempferols; C477012:MAP1LC3A protein, human; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D012402:Rotenone; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate; D018750:6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione; C006552:kaempferol; D053148:Caspase 3