title: Kai-Xin-San, a traditional Chinese medicine formula, induces neuronal differentiation of cultured PC12 cells: Modulating neurotransmitter regulation enzymes and potentiating NGF inducing neurite outgrowth.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Kai-Xin-San, an ancient formula composed of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Polygalae Radix, Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma and Poria, was frequently applied for major depression disorders for thousands of years. However, its molecular mechanism has not clearly been investigated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to reveal the action mechanism of KXS on anti-depression on inducing neuronal differentiation on PC12 cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  A chemically standardized water extract of KXS was applied onto cultured PC12 cells in determining its effect on neurotransmitter regulation enzymes and neurite outgrowth.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Single KXS treatment showed obvious changes in the expression of neurofilament and neurotransmitter regulation enzymes, which in parallel to treatment of nerve growth factor (NGF). Although KXS by itself did not show significant inductive effect on neurite outgrowth of PC12 cells, KXS could potentiate the NGF induced neurite outgrowth. Among the three ratios, K-652 showed the most powerful effect and cAMP-dependent pathway might play the major role.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  KXS might exert the anti-depressant-like action of be inducing neuronal differentiation, which supported the clinically usage of this decoction.
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory for High Technology Research of TCM Formulae and Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nan Jing, Jiangsu Province, China. Electronic address: zhuky@njucm.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory for High Technology Research of TCM Formulae and Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nan Jing, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Xiuzhu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory for High Technology Research of TCM Formulae and Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nan Jing, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Feiyu
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory for High Technology Research of TCM Formulae and Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nan Jing, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Xiaonan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory for High Technology Research of TCM Formulae and Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nan Jing, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Liu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory for High Technology Research of TCM Formulae and Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nan Jing, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Pei
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory for High Technology Research of TCM Formulae and Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nan Jing, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Su
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shulan
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory for High Technology Research of TCM Formulae and Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nan Jing, Jiangsu Province, China. Electronic address: dja@njucm.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Jin-Ao
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.affiliation: Division of Life Science and Center for Chinese Medicine, Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Tina Ting-Xia
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Division of Life Science and Center for Chinese Medicine, Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Karl Wah-Keung
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Tsim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016501:Neurites; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D016716:PC12 Cells; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C000605449:Kai-Xin-San; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor
keywords: Chinese medicine; Depression; Differentiation; Kai-Xin-San; Neurotransmitter; TCM formulae