Taurine protects neuronal cells by suppressing Caspase 9 activation / 医学研究生学报

ABSTRACT

Objective Neurological diseases are closely associated with the apoptosis of neuronal cells .This article aims to study the inhibitory effect of taurine on the apoptosis of hippocampal neurons by activating Caspase 9 as well as its protective effect on the nervous system and its mechanisms . Methods Mouse hippocampal neuronal cells were randomly divided into four groupscontrol, injury and apoptosis, low-dose taurine protection, and high-dose taurine protection.The proliferation of the neuronalcells was observed, their apoptosis examined by MTT colorimetric assay, and the expression of Caspase 9 in different groups detected by immunofluorescence and Western blot. Results The injury and apoptosis group showed a poor proliferation of the hippocampal neuronal cells and decreased cell viability (A=0.102 ±0.025), significantly lower than the control group (relative A=0.643 ± 0.013), the low-dose taurine group (relative A=0.504 ±0.072), and the high-dose taurine group (relative A=0.452 ±0.029) ( all P<0 .05 ) .Immunofluorescence assay revealed significantly increased Caspase 9 activation in the injury and apoptosis group (A=61386.8 ±10083.6) compared with the control (A=4502.2 ±2518.1), the low-dose taurine (A=20077.4 ±4187.5), and the high-dose taurine group (A=13976.2 ±7044.1) (all P<0.05).Western blot showed a remarkably higher expression of Caspase 9 in in the injury and apoptosis group (A=1.23) than in the control (relative A=0.17), the low-dose taurine (A=0.21), and the high-dose taurine group (A=0.19) (all P<0.05). Conclusion Taurine can protect neuronal cells by inhibi-ting Caspase 9 activation.