title: Emodin prevents hypoxic-ischemic neuronal injury: Involvement of the activin A pathway.
abstract: Emodin, an extract of dried rhizomes and the root of the Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati, can protect neurons from hypoxic-ischemic brain damage. This study aimed to verify the underlying mechanism. After PC12 cells had differentiated into neuron-like cells under the induction of mouse nerve growth factor, cells were subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation and treated with emodin. Results showed that the viability of neuron-like cells cultured under an ischemia-hypoxia environment decreased, while the expression of activin A and caspase-3 in cells increased. Emodin raised the survival rate of oxygen-glucose deprived neuron-like cells, increased activin A expression, and decreased caspase-3 expression. Experimental findings indicate that emodin can inhibit neuronal apoptosis and alleviate the injury of nerve cells after oxygen-glucose deprivation through the activin A pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, China ; Beihua University, Jilin 132001, Jilin Province, China.
authors.forename: Hongliang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Jilin Municipal Central Hospital, Jilin 132001, Jilin Province, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoran
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Jilin Medical College, Jilin 132001, Jilin Province, China.
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, China.
authors.forename: Junliang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Beihua University, Jilin 132001, Jilin Province, China.
authors.forename: Dongming
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, China.
authors.forename: Wenli
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hu
keywords: activin A; apoptosis; caspase-3; emodin; grants-supported paper; neural regeneration; neuroprotection; neuroregeneration; oxygen-glucose deprivation; traditional Chinese medicine