title: Involvement of PKCα and ERK1/2 signaling pathways in EGCG's protection against stress-induced neural injuries in Wistar rats.
abstract: Stress-induced neural injuries are closely linked to the pathogenesis of various neuropsychiatric disorders and psychosomatic diseases. We and others have previously demonstrated certain protective effects of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) in stress-induced cerebral impairments, but the underlying protective mechanisms still remain poorly elucidated. Here we provide evidence to support the possible involvement of PKCα and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) signaling pathways in EGCG-mediated protection against restraint stress-induced neural injuries in rats. In both open-field and step-through behavioral tests, the restraint stress-induced neuronal impairments were significantly ameliorated by administration of EGCG or green tea polyphenols (GTPs), which was associated with a partial restoration of normal plasma glucocorticoid, dopamine and serotonin levels. Furthermore, the stress-induced decrease of PKCα and ERK1/2 expression and phosphorylation was significantly attenuated by EGCG and to a less extent by GTP administration. Additionally, EGCG supplementation restored the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and the expression of a key regulator of cellular energy metabolism, the peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), in stressed animals. In conclusion, PKCα and ERK1/2 signaling pathways as well as PGC-1α-mediated ATP production might be involved in EGCG-mediated protection against stress-induced neural injuries.
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Institute of Health and Environmental Medicine, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoling
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Weifang People's Hospital, Weifang, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Fengqin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Institute of Health and Environmental Medicine, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Haimin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Institute of Health and Environmental Medicine, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Renjia
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Institute of Health and Environmental Medicine, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Yonghui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Wanqi
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, USA; Department of Emergency Medicine, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, NY, USA. Electronic address: hwang@northwell.edu.
authors.forename: Haichao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Institute of Health and Environmental Medicine, Tianjin, China; The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, USA. Electronic address: tjchenwq@sohu.com.
authors.forename: Weiqiang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002392:Catechin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D019579:Neocortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D000071248:Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D051571:Protein Kinase C-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D047495:PPAR gamma; D000071248:Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha; C501429:Ppargc1a protein, rat; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012701:Serotonin; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D002392:Catechin; C045651:epigallocatechin gallate; D051571:Protein Kinase C-alpha; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D004298:Dopamine; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG); extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1/2); peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1 α (PGC-1α); protein kinase C α (PKCα); stress