title: Neuroprotective effects of Gua Lou Gui Zhi decoction against glutamate-induced apoptosis in BV-2 cells.
abstract: Gua Lou Gui Zhi decoction (GLGZD), a traditional Chinese medicine consisting of different herbal medicines, has been used for centuries in the treatment of muscular spasticity following stroke, epilepsy or spinal cord injury. However, the precise mechanisms involved remain poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated the neuroprotective effects of GLGZD on glutamate-induced apoptosis in cultured BV-2 cells, as well as the underlying mechanisms. A 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was applied to assess the viability of the cells. An Annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) assay was utilized to analyze cellular apoptosis. Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was evaluated by flow cytometry and laser scanning confocal microscopy. The gene and protein expression of the apoptosis-related genes, Bcl-2 and Bax, was analyzed by RT-PCR and western blot analysis, respectively. Furthermore, the expression of cleaved caspase-3 protein was detected by immunofluorescence. Glutamate treatment induced the loss of BV-2 cell viability, which was associated with an increase in the apoptotic rate, as well as an increase in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and the extracellular levels of cleaved caspase-3. Treatment with GLGZD significantly reversed these phenotypes, with its maximum protective effects observed at the concentration of 1,000 µg/ml. These results indicate that GLGZD protects BV-2 cells from glutamate-induced cytotoxicity. These protective effects may be ascribed to its anti-apoptotic activities, in part, associated with the decrease in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and caspase-3 expression, as well as with the stability of high mitochondrial membrane potential.
authors.affiliation: Fujian Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zuanfang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Fujian Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Haixia
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Fujian Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Ruhui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Fujian Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jingjie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.affiliation: Fujian Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiaoqin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Fujian Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zhenfeng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: College of Rehabilitation Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.affiliation: College of Rehabilitation Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: College of Rehabilitation Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Lidian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; C584294:gua lou gui zhi; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D053148:Caspase 3