Neuroprotective Effects of 17β-Estradiol against Thrombin-Induced Apoptosis in Primary Cultured Cortical Neurons.
OBJECTIVE
17β-estradiol (E2) is a powerful neuroprotective agent in the central nervous system; however, little is known about its effects on intracerebral hemorrhage. This study examined the effects of E2 on thrombin-induced apoptosis in vitro and investigated the potential mechanisms.


METHODS
Primary cultured cortical neurons were treated with E2 or vehicle and then the cells were exposed to thrombin. Neuronal apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry. The phosphorylated c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (p-JNK), phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (p-ERK1/2), B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) and caspase-3 were assayed by western blot.


RESULTS
Consequently, we found that E2 has significantly reduced the apoptosis in thrombin-treated neurons. E2 also exhibited a downregulation in the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2, caspase-3 and p-JNK. However, E2 had little effect on p-ERK1/2 proteins activation.


CONCLUSIONS
Taken together, E2 has shown neuroprotective effects on thrombin-induced neuronal apoptosis, and the molecular mechanisms may correlate with the inhibition of the JNK signaling pathway.
Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou, China.
Lei
L
Bao
Su
S
Zhou
Hui
H
Zhao
Jie
J
Zu
Qianqian
Q
He
Xinchun
X
Ye
Guiyun
G
Cui
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D061251:Primary Cell Culture; D051381:Rats; D013917:Thrombin / Q000633:toxicity*
D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D004958:Estradiol; D013917:Thrombin