Effects of Zhichan powder on signal transduction and apoptosis-associated gene expression in the substantia nigra of Parkinson's disease rats

Jiajun Chen; Jinshu Ma; Yafei Qiu; Shihong Yi; Yongmao Liu; Qingwei Zhou; Pengguo Zhang; Quan Wan; Ye Kuang

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2012.27.005

Effects of Zhichan powder on signal transduction and apoptosis-associated gene expression in the substantia nigra of Parkinson's disease rats

Neural Regen Res. 2012 Sep 25;7(27):2115-22. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2012.27.005.

Authors

Jiajun Chen¹, Jinshu Ma², Yafei Qiu², Shihong Yi², Yongmao Liu², Qingwei Zhou³, Pengguo Zhang⁴, Quan Wan⁵, Ye Kuang³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurology, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun 130031, Jilin Province, China.
² Department of Immunology, Norman Bethune College of Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China.
³ Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China.
⁴ Department of Image, Second Clinical Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China.
⁵ Department of Biotechnology, Life Science College, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, Jilin Province, China.

PMID: 25558224
PMCID: PMC4281412
DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2012.27.005

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that Zhichan powder elevated immunity and suppressed oxidation in mice. Rat models of Parkinson's disease were induced by stereotaxically injecting 6-hydroxydopamine into the substantia nigra. The rat models were intragastrically treated with Zhichan powder, which is composed of milkvetch root, ginseng, bunge swallowwort root, himalayan teasel root, Magnolia officinalis, Ligustrum lucidum Ait. and szechwan lovage rhizome. Immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-PCR results demonstrated that mRNA and protein expression of tumor necrosis factor receptor 1, Fas, caspase-8, cytochrome C, Bax, caspase-3, and p53 significantly increased, but Bcl-2 expression significantly decreased in the substantia nigra of rats with Parkinson's disease. Following Zhichan powder administration, mRNA and protein expression of tumor necrosis factor receptor 1, Fas, caspase-8, cytochrome C, Bax, caspase-3, and p53 diminished, but Bcl-2 expression increased in the rat substantia nigra. These results indicate that Zhichan powder regulates signal transduction protein expression, inhibits apoptosis, and exerts therapeutic effects on Parkinson's disease.

Keywords: 6-hydroxydopamine; Parkinson’s disease; Zhichan powder; apoptosis; degenerative disease; neural regeneration; signal transduction; substantia nigra; traditional Chinese medicine.