title: Phytoestrogen α-zearalanol exerts antiapoptotic effects in differentiated pc12 cells via oestrogen receptor α.
abstract: Our previous studies have demonstrated that phytoestrogen α-zearalanol (α-ZAL) possesses potential benefits in alleviating cell apoptotic death just like oestrogen. However, the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that the neuroprotective effect of α-ZAL is mediated by oestrogen receptor (ER) as α-ZAL owns the benzene ring structure may interact with ER. The present results showed a significant increase in apoptosis in differentiated PC12 cells after a 24-hr exposure to amyloid β-peptide fragment 25-35 (Aβ25-35 ), accompanied by decreasing of bcl-2 expression and increasing bax expression, whereas a pre-treatment with α-ZAL ameliorated these changes induced by Aβ25-35 . In addition, the α-ZAL-mediated cytoprotection was abrogated by ERα antagonist but not by ERβ antagonist. In summary, these data suggest that α-ZAL intervenes against Aβ-induced apoptosis via intersecting bcl-2-bax apoptotic pathway in an ERα-sensitive manner.
authors: The School of Medicine, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
authors: Yi Long
authors: YL
authors: Dong
authors: Yan Mei
authors: YM
authors: Wang
authors: Hong Ju
authors: HJ
authors: Yang
authors: Xiao Zhou
authors: XZ
authors: Yang
authors: Hai Jing
authors: HJ
authors: Yu
mesh_terms: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016716:PC12 Cells; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D015029:Zeranol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; C074636:amyloid beta-protein (25-35); D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D015029:Zeranol