The Coumarin Derivative Osthole Stimulates Adult Neural Stem Cells, Promotes Neurogenesis in the Hippocampus, and Ameliorates Cognitive Impairment in APP/PS1 Transgenic Mice.
It is believed that neuronal death caused by abnormal deposition of amyloid-beta peptide is the major cause of the cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease. Adult neurogenesis plays a key role in the rescue of impaired neurons and amelioration of cognitive impairment. In the present study, we demonstrated that osthole, a natural coumarin derivative, was capable of promoting neuronal stem cell (NSC) survival and inducing NSC proliferation in vitro. In osthole-treated APP/PS1 transgenic mice, a significant improvement in learning and memory function was seen, which was associated with a significant increase in the number of new neurons (Ki67(+)/NF-M(+)) and a decrease in apoptotic cells in the hippocampal region of the brain. These observations suggested that osthole promoted NSC proliferation, supported neurogenesis, and thus efficiently rescued impaired neurons in the hippocampus and ameliorated cognitive impairment. We also found that osthole treatment activated the Notch pathway and upregulated the expression of self-renewal genes Notch 1 and Hes 1 mRNA in NSCs. However, when Notch activity was blocked by the γ-secretase inhibitor DAPT, the augmentation of Notch 1 and Hes 1 protein was ameliorated, and the proliferation-inducing effect of osthole was abolished, suggesting that the effects of osthole are at least in part mediated by activation of the Notch pathway.
School of Pharmacy, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Liang
L
Kong
Yu
Y
Hu
Yingjia
Y
Yao
Yanan
Y
Jiao
Shaoheng
S
Li
Jingxian
J
Yang
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D003374:Coumarins / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053764:Presenilin-1 / Q000235:genetics
C545487:APP protein, human; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; D003374:Coumarins; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D053764:Presenilin-1; C046627:osthol