title: Ginsenoside compound K promotes β-amyloid peptide clearance in primary astrocytes via autophagy enhancement.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of ginsenoside compound K on β-amyloid (Aβ) peptide clearance in primary astrocytes. Aβ degradation in primary astrocytes was determined using an intracellular Aβ clearance assay. Aggregated LC3 in astrocyte cells, which is a marker for the level of autophagy, was detected using laser scanning confocal microscope. The effect of compound K on the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/autophagy pathway was determined using western blot analysis, and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used for Aβ detection. The results demonstrated that compound K promoted the clearance of Aβ and enhanced autophagy in primary astrocytes. In addition, it was found that phosphorylation of mTOR was inhibited by compound K, which may have contributed to the enhanced autophagy. In conclusion, compound K promotes Aβ clearance by enhancing autophagy via the mTOR signaling pathway in primary astrocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Weihui, Henan 453100, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jinhui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Weihui, Henan 453100, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Weihui, Henan 453100, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Weihui, Henan 453100, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Sujuan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pei
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Weihui, Henan 453100, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Meishuang
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Weihui, Henan 453100, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jianlian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gao
keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; autophagy; compound K; β-amyloid peptides