Berberine attenuates axonal transport impairment and axonopathy induced by Calyculin A in N2a cells.
Berberine is a primary component of the most functional extracts of Coptidis rhizome used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. Recent reports indicate that Berberine has the potential to prevent and treat Alzheimer's disease (AD). The previous studies reported that Calyculin A (CA) impaired the axonal transport in neuroblastoma-2a (N2a) cells. Berberine attenuated tau hyperphosphorylation and cytotoxicity induced by CA. Our study aimed at investigating the effects of Berberine on the axonal transport impairment induced by CA in N2a cells. The results showed that Berberine could protect the cell from CA -induced toxicity in metabolism and viability, as well as hyperphosphorylation of tau and neurofilaments (NFs). Furthermore, Berberine could reverse CA-induced axonal transport impairment significantly. Berberine also partially reversed the phosphorylation of the catalytic subunit of PP-2A at Tyrosine 307, a crucial site negatively regulating the activity of PP-2A, and reduced the levels of malondialdehyde and the activity of superoxide dismutase, markers of oxidative stress, induced by CA. The present work for the first time demonstrates that Berberine may play a role in protecting against CA-induced axonal transport impairment by modulating the activity of PP-2A and oxidative stress. Our findings also suggest that Berberine may be a potential therapeutic drug for AD.
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
Xiaofeng
X
Liu
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
Jie
J
Zhou
Department of Immunology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
Morad Dirhem Naji
MD
Abid
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
Huanhuan
H
Yan
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
Hao
H
Huang
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
Limin
L
Wan
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
Zuohua
Z
Feng
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
Juan
J
Chen
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D001370:Axonal Transport / Q000187:drug effects*; D001369:Axons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001599:Berberine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000187:drug effects; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D008387:Marine Toxins; D051379:Mice; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010080:Oxazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010763:Phosphorylase b / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
D008387:Marine Toxins; D010080:Oxazoles; D016875:tau Proteins; D001599:Berberine; D008315:Malondialdehyde; C059041:calyculin A; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D010763:Phosphorylase b