title: Ferulic acid protects PC12 neurons against hypoxia by inhibiting the p-MAPKs and COX-2 pathways.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hypoxia induces cellular oxidative stress that is associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Here, the protective effects of ferulic acid (FA) on hypoxia-induced neurotoxicity in PC12 cells were evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated the effect of FA on PC12 cells subjected to hypoxia stress, in vitro.
  
  
  RESULTS
  FA increased cell viability, prevented membrane damage (LDH release), scavenged free radicals, increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and attenuated the elevation of intracellular free Ca(2+), lipid peroxidation, apoptosis (evaluated by TUNEL staining) and PGE2 production in hypoxia-stressed PC12 cells. MAPKs were activated during hypoxia. FA reduced p-p38 MAPK, caspase-3, and COX-2 activation which correlated well with diminished LDH release in PC12 cells under hypoxia. Furthermore, FA reduced lipid peroxidation in PC12 cells subjected to hypoxia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taken together, these results indicate that FA antioxidant effects could partly be involved in inhibition of p38 MAPK pathway and apoptosis through scavenging ROS in hypoxia-stressed PC12 cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Optometry, Yuanpei University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wen-Chieh
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education Office, Yuanpei University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yu-Fen
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Yuanpei University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chien-Wei
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Hou
keywords: Caspase-3; Ferulic acid; Hypoxia; MAPKs; ROS