Berberine attenuates axonal transport impairment and axonopathy induced by Calyculin A in N2a cells.

Berberine is a primary component of the most functional extracts of Coptidis rhizome used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. Recent reports indicate that Berberine has the potential to prevent and treat Alzheimer's disease (AD). The previous studies reported that Calyculin A (CA) impaired the axonal transport in neuroblastoma-2a (N2a) cells. Berberine attenuated tau hyperphosphorylation and cytotoxicity induced by CA. Our study aimed at investigating the effects of Berberine on the axonal transport impairment induced by CA in N2a cells. The results showed that Berberine could protect the cell from CA -induced toxicity in metabolism and viability, as well as hyperphosphorylation of tau and neurofilaments (NFs). Furthermore, Berberine could reverse CA-induced axonal transport impairment significantly. Berberine also partially reversed the phosphorylation of the catalytic subunit of PP-2A at Tyrosine 307, a crucial site negatively regulating the activity of PP-2A, and reduced the levels of malondialdehyde and the activity of superoxide dismutase, markers of oxidative stress, induced by CA. The present work for the first time demonstrates that Berberine may play a role in protecting against CA-induced axonal transport impairment by modulating the activity of PP-2A and oxidative stress. Our findings also suggest that Berberine may be a potential therapeutic drug for AD.

ox-LDL downregulates eNOS activity via LOX-1-mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Vascular endothelial injury induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) has been implicated in the early stages of the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. In this study, we incubated bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) with ox-LDL (100 µg/ml) in order to induce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and to investigate the regulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). Within 4 h of exposure, ox-LDL rapidly induced ER stress, as demonstrated by the measurements of proline-rich extensin-like receptor kinase (PERK) and glucose-regulated protein (GRP)78. ox-LDL induced the rapid dephosphorylation of eNOS at Ser1179 and a subsequent decrease in eNOS activity. This effect appeared to be highly specific as no change was observed in the levels of phosphorylated eNOS at Thr497 or eNOS protein. Of note, a simultaneous decrease was also observed in the active (phosphorylated) form of Akt (Thr308/Ser473), which has been demonstrated to phosphorylate eNOS at Ser1179. Further analysis indicated that Brefeldin A (BFA), an ER stress-inducing reagent, induced the rapid dephosphorylation of Akt and eNOS at Ser1179. 4-Phenylbutyric acid (PBA), an inhibitor of ER stress, blocked the ox-LDL-induced dephosphorylation of Akt and eNOS. Furthermore, JTX20, a lectin-like ox-LDL receptor-1 (LOX-1) blocking antibody significantly eliminated the ability of ox-LDL to mediate the dephosphorylation of eNOS and Akt. Our results indicate that the downregulation of eNOS by ox-LDL, as driven by LOX-1-mediated ER stress, is associated with the PI3K-Akt-eNOS signaling pathway.

Khat (Catha edulis) generates reactive oxygen species and promotes hepatic cell apoptosis via MAPK activation.

A number of studies have suggested an association between khat (Catha edulis) chewing and acute liver lesions or chronic liver disease. However, little is known about the effects of khat on hepatic cells. In the current study, we investigated the mechanism behind khat-induced apoptosis in the L02 human hepatic cell line. We used cell growth inhibition assay, flow cytometry and Hoechst 33258 staining to measure hepatocyte apoptosis induced by khat. Western blot analysis was used to detect the expression levels of caspase-8 and -9, as well as those of Bax and Bcl-2. We also measured reactive oxygen species production. The results indicated that khat induced significant hepatocyte apoptosis in L02 cells. We found that khat activated caspase-8 and -9, upregulated Bax protein expression and downregulated Bcl-2 expression levels, which resulted in the coordination of apoptotic signals. Khat-induced hepatocyte apoptosis is primarily regulated through the sustained activation of the c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway and only partially via the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) cascade. Furthermore, the khat-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and the activation of the ROS scavenger, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), attenuated the khat-induced activation of JNK and ERK. Our results demonstrate that khat triggers the generation of intracellular ROS and sequentially induces the sustainable activation of JNK, which in turn results in a decrease in cell viability and an increase in cell apoptosis.