Flavonoids induce the expression of synaptic proteins, synaptotagmin, and postsynaptic density protein-95 in cultured rat cortical neuron.
Flavonoids, a family of phenolic compounds, are widely present in our daily diet and exist in traditional Chinese medicines, in which they act as the major active functional ingredients. Different lines of evidence indicate that flavonoids have positive impacts on human health. Here, different subclasses of flavonoids were analyzed for their inductive roles in promoting the expression of synaptic proteins, synaptotagmin, and post-synaptic density protein-95 in cultured rat cortical neurons. Among the screened 65 flavonoids, (-)-catechin, luteolin, and isorhamnetin, in micromolar concentration, were found to induce the expression of synaptic proteins in a dose-dependent manner: the induction values were from 2- to 8-fold that of the control. Similar results were revealed in the flavonoid-treated hippocampal neurons. The identification of these synapse-promoting flavonoids could be very useful in finding potential drugs, or food supplements, for treating various neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease and depression.
Division of Life Science and Center for Chinese Medicine, Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China.
Sherry L
SL
Xu
Division of Life Science and Center for Chinese Medicine, Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China.
Kevin Y
KY
Zhu
Division of Life Science and Center for Chinese Medicine, Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China.
Cathy W C
CW
Bi
Division of Life Science and Center for Chinese Medicine, Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China.
Roy C Y
RC
Choi
Division of Life Science and Center for Chinese Medicine, Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China.
Abudureyimu
A
Miernisha
Division of Life Science and Center for Chinese Medicine, Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China.
Artemis L
AL
Yan
Division of Life Science and Center for Chinese Medicine, Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China.
Maitinuer
M
Maiwulanjiang
Division of Life Science and Center for Chinese Medicine, Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China.
Simon W X
SW
Men
Division of Life Science and Center for Chinese Medicine, Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China.
Tina T X
TT
Dong
Division of Life Science and Center for Chinese Medicine, Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China.
Karl W K
KW
Tsim
D000818:Animals; D002392:Catechin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000076122:Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D047311:Luteolin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011794:Quercetin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism; D050857:Synaptotagmins / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D000076122:Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein; C501449:Dlg4 protein, rat; D005419:Flavonoids; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C047368:3-methylquercetin; D050857:Synaptotagmins; D002392:Catechin; D011794:Quercetin; D047311:Luteolin