Open Access

Involvement of the ERK pathway in the protective effects of glycyrrhizic acid against the MPP+-induced apoptosis of dopaminergic neuronal cells

  • Authors:
    • Lesheng Teng
    • Chunjia Kou
    • Chengyu Lu
    • Jiaming Xu
    • Jing  Xie
    • Jiahui  Lu
    • Yan Liu
    • Zhenzuo Wang
    • Di Wang
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: July 2, 2014     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2014.1830
  • Pages: 742-748
  • Copyright: © Teng et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License [CC BY_NC 3.0].

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Abstract

Glycyrrhizic acid (GA), a major compound separated from Radix Glycyrrhizae, has been shwon to exert various biochemical effects, including neuroprotective effects. In the present study, we investigated the protective effects of GA against 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+)‑induced damage to differentiated PC12 (DPC12) cells. Compared with the MPP+-treated cells, GA markedly improved cell viability, restored mitochondrial dysfunction, suppressed the overexpression of cleaved poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), and suppressed the overproduction of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and intracellular Ca2+ overload. The protective effects of GA on cell survival were further confirmed in primary cortical neurons. GA markedly increased the expression of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK), as well as its migration from the cytoplasm to nucleus. PD98059, an inhibitor of ERK, blocked GA-enhanced ERK activation and reduced cell viability. However, pre-treatment with GA had no effects on the expression of phosphorylated AKT (p-AKT) and total AKT (t-AKT). These results indicate that the GA-mediated neuroprotective effects are associated with its modulation of multiple anti-apoptotic and pro-apoptotic factors, particularly the ERK signaling pathway. This study provides evidence supporting the use of GA as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and neuronal injury.
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September-2014
Volume 34 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 1107-3756
Online ISSN:1791-244X

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Spandidos Publications style
Teng L, Kou C, Lu C, Xu J, Xie J, Lu J, Liu Y, Wang Z and Wang D: Involvement of the ERK pathway in the protective effects of glycyrrhizic acid against the MPP+-induced apoptosis of dopaminergic neuronal cells. Int J Mol Med 34: 742-748, 2014.
APA
Teng, L., Kou, C., Lu, C., Xu, J., Xie, J., Lu, J. ... Wang, D. (2014). Involvement of the ERK pathway in the protective effects of glycyrrhizic acid against the MPP+-induced apoptosis of dopaminergic neuronal cells. International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 34, 742-748. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2014.1830
MLA
Teng, L., Kou, C., Lu, C., Xu, J., Xie, J., Lu, J., Liu, Y., Wang, Z., Wang, D."Involvement of the ERK pathway in the protective effects of glycyrrhizic acid against the MPP+-induced apoptosis of dopaminergic neuronal cells". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 34.3 (2014): 742-748.
Chicago
Teng, L., Kou, C., Lu, C., Xu, J., Xie, J., Lu, J., Liu, Y., Wang, Z., Wang, D."Involvement of the ERK pathway in the protective effects of glycyrrhizic acid against the MPP+-induced apoptosis of dopaminergic neuronal cells". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 34, no. 3 (2014): 742-748. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2014.1830