Main Article Content
Protective effect of valproic acid on MPP+ -induced neurotoxicity in dopaminergic SH-SY5Y cells through Cdk5/p35/Erk signaling cascade
Abstract
Purpose: To investigate the neuroprotective effect of valproic acid (VPA) on 1-methyl-4- phenylpyridinium (MPP+)-induced dopaminergic cell loss in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells.
Methods: Cell viability was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in MPP+-treated SH-SY5Y cells was investigated by DCFH-DA. Apoptotic cell death was confirmed by Hoechst 33342 staining. The protective effect of VPA via Cdk5 and p35 cascade was investigated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot (WB) analysis. In addition, further investigation on cell survival was performed using Western blot analysis through Erk signaling pathway.
Results: Cell viability was dramatically decreased in cells treated with MPP+ in a concentrationdependent manner (p < 0.05). Pre-treatment with VPA ameliorated MPP+-induced death of dopaminergic cell via inhibition of ROS generation (p < 0.05). VPA restored Cdk5 and p35 expression and significantly increased cell survival mediated by Erk activity (pErk/Erk).
Conclusion: The results from this study confirmed that VPA attenuated MPP+-induced dopaminergic cell death by the inhibition of ROS production via Cdk5/p35 cascade and Erk signaling pathway. VPA is thus a potential therapeutic candidate for the treatment of dopaminergic cell death via Cdk5/p35 cascade.