Taurine and Ginsenoside Rf Induce BDNF Expression in SH-SY5Y Cells: A Potential Role of BDNF in Corticosterone-Triggered Cellular Damage

Molecules. 2020 Jun 18;25(12):2819. doi: 10.3390/molecules25122819.

Abstract

This study shows that taurine and ginsenoside Rf act synergistically to increase the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The increase of BDNF mRNA by taurine and ginsenoside Rf was markedly attenuated by inhibitors of extracellular signal-regulated kinase and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase. In addition, taurine and ginsenoside Rf protected cells from corticosterone-induced BDNF suppression and reduced cell viability and lactate dehydrogenase release. The results from this study showed that combined treatment with both taurine and ginsenoside Rf enhanced BDNF expression and protected cells against corticosterone-induced damage.

Keywords: BDNF; SH-SY5Y cells; corticosterone; ginsenoside Rf; neuronal damage; taurine.

MeSH terms

  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / biosynthesis*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Corticosterone / pharmacology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects*
  • Ginsenosides / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Neoplasm Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Neuroblastoma / drug therapy
  • Neuroblastoma / metabolism*
  • Neuroblastoma / pathology
  • Taurine / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
  • Ginsenosides
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Taurine
  • BDNF protein, human
  • ginsenoside Rf
  • Corticosterone