title: Cytoprotective mechanism of ferulic acid against high glucose-induced oxidative stress in cardiomyocytes and hepatocytes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ferulic acid (FA), a phenolic acid, is a potential therapy for diabetes mellitus. FA has been shown to protect against hepatic and myocardial injury and oxidative stress in obese rats with late-stage diabetes, but the mechanism of the antioxidative activity of FA is still unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to elucidate whether FA can prevent damage to cardiomyocytes and hepatocytes caused by high glucose (HG)-induced oxidative stress and whether the protection effects of FA on these cells are related to the Keap1-Nrf2-ARE signaling pathways.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cells were divided into four groups: a control group (cultured with normal medium), an HG group (medium containing 80 mmol/L glucose), an FA+HG group (medium containing 80 mmol/L glucose and 1, 5, or 10 µg/mL FA), and a dimethylbiguanide (DMBG)+HG group (medium containing 80 mmol/L glucose and 50 µg/mL DMBG).
  
  
  RESULTS
  FA treatment significantly increased cell viability and significantly decreased cell apoptosis compared with the HG-treated group. Moreover, FA down-regulated the expression of Keap1 protein and up-regulated the expression of Nrf2 protein and gene transcription of HO-1 and glutathione S-transferase (GST) in a dose-dependent manner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FA alleviated the HG-induced oxidative stress and decreased cell apoptosis in hepatocytes and cardiomyocytes. These effects were associated with the Keap1-Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway.
authors: Out-patient Department, First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
authors: Yuan
authors: Y
authors: Song
authors: Department of Food Science and Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
authors: Luona
authors: L
authors: Wen
authors: Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Light Industry, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, China.
authors: Jianxia
authors: J
authors: Sun
authors: Department of Food Science and Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China; baiweibin@163.com.
authors: Weibin
authors: W
authors: Bai
authors: Department of Food Science and Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
authors: Rui
authors: R
authors: Jiao
authors: Out-patient Department, First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
authors: Yunfeng
authors: Y
authors: Hu
authors: Department of Food Science and Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
authors: Xichun
authors: X
authors: Peng
authors: Out-patient Department, First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
authors: Yong
authors: Y
authors: He
authors: Department of Food Science and Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China; tosy@jnu.edu.cn.
authors: Shiyi
authors: S
authors: Ou
keywords: cardiomyocytes; ferulic acid; hepatocytes; oxidative stress