Spinosin protects N2a cells from H2 O2 -induced neurotoxicity through inactivation of p38MAPK

J Pharm Pharmacol. 2020 Nov;72(11):1607-1614. doi: 10.1111/jphp.13334. Epub 2020 Jul 15.

Abstract

Objectives: Previous studies have suggested that spinosin (SPI) exerted neuroprotective effects through inhibition of oxidative damage, but the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. Herein, the mechanisms underlying the protective effects of SPI against oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ) were examined in neuro-2a (N2a) mouse neuroblastoma cells.

Methods: N2a cells were pretreated with H2 O2 for 2 h, followed by a 24-h incubation with SPI. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was analysed by flow cytometry. Levels of Aβ1-42 production were determined by ELISA assay. Levels of expression of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p-JNK, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p-ERK, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK), p-p38MAPK, p-Tau (Ser199), p-Tau (Ser202), p-Tau (Ser396), synaptophysin (SYP) and postsynaptic scaffold postsynaptic density-95 (PSD-95) were detected by Western blot analysis.

Key findings: Our results showed that H2 O2 treatment enhanced intracellular ROS production in N2a cells. SPI prevented H2 O2 -induced oxidative damage via inhibiting Aβ1-42 production, decreasing Tau phosphorylation and improving synaptic structural plasticity. Notably, H2 O2 -increased p38MAPK activation was attenuated by SPI administration, and p38MAPK inhibitor BIRB796 markedly reduced H2 O2 -induced oxidative damage in N2a cells.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that SPI protects N2a cells from H2 O2 -induced oxidative damage through inactivation of p38MAPK.

Keywords: neuroprotection; oxidative stress; p38MAPK; spinosin.

MeSH terms

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Flavonoids / pharmacology*
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / toxicity*
  • Mice
  • Neuronal Plasticity / drug effects
  • Neurons / drug effects*
  • Neurons / enzymology
  • Neurons / pathology
  • Neuroprotective Agents / pharmacology*
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects*
  • Peptide Fragments / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation
  • Signal Transduction
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • tau Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Antioxidants
  • Flavonoids
  • Mapt protein, mouse
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Peptide Fragments
  • amyloid beta-protein (1-42)
  • tau Proteins
  • spinosin
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases