Esculetin as a Bifunctional Antioxidant Prevents and Counteracts the Oxidative Stress and Neuronal Death Induced by Amyloid Protein in SH-SY5Y Cells

Oxidative stress (OS) appears to be an important determinant during the different stages of progression of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). In particular, impaired antioxidant defense mechanisms, such as the decrease of glutathione (GSH) and nuclear factor erythroid 2 (NF-E2)-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a mas...

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Main Authors: Letizia Pruccoli, Fabiana Morroni, Giulia Sita, Patrizia Hrelia, Andrea Tarozzi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-06-01
Series:Antioxidants
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/9/6/551
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author Letizia Pruccoli
Fabiana Morroni
Giulia Sita
Patrizia Hrelia
Andrea Tarozzi
author_facet Letizia Pruccoli
Fabiana Morroni
Giulia Sita
Patrizia Hrelia
Andrea Tarozzi
author_sort Letizia Pruccoli
collection DOAJ
description Oxidative stress (OS) appears to be an important determinant during the different stages of progression of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). In particular, impaired antioxidant defense mechanisms, such as the decrease of glutathione (GSH) and nuclear factor erythroid 2 (NF-E2)-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a master regulator of antioxidant genes, including those for GSH, are associated with OS in the human AD brain. Among the neuropathological hallmarks of AD, the soluble oligomers of amyloid beta (A) peptides seem to promote neuronal death through mitochondrial dysfunction and OS. In this regard, bifunctional antioxidants can exert a dual neuroprotective role by scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) directly and concomitant induction of antioxidant genes. In this study, among natural coumarins (esculetin, scopoletin, fraxetin and daphnetin), we demonstrated the ability of esculetin (ESC) to prevent and counteract ROS formation in neuronal SH-SY5Y cells, suggesting its profile as a bifunctional antioxidant. In particular, ESC increased the resistance of the SH-SY5Y cells against OS through the activation of Nrf2 and increase of GSH. In similar experimental conditions, ESC could also protect the SH-SY5Y cells from the OS and neuronal death evoked by oligomers of A<sub>1–42</sub> peptides. Further, the use of the inhibitors PD98059 and LY294002 also showed that Erk1/2 and Akt signaling pathways were involved in the neuroprotection mediated by ESC. These results encourage further research in AD models to explore the efficacy and safety profile of ESC as a novel neuroprotective agent.
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spelling doaj.art-98e23086c606442886e98c695c4473bb2023-11-20T04:54:44ZengMDPI AGAntioxidants2076-39212020-06-019655110.3390/antiox9060551Esculetin as a Bifunctional Antioxidant Prevents and Counteracts the Oxidative Stress and Neuronal Death Induced by Amyloid Protein in SH-SY5Y CellsLetizia Pruccoli0Fabiana Morroni1Giulia Sita2Patrizia Hrelia3Andrea Tarozzi4Department for Life Quality Studies, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, Corso d’Augusto 237, 47921 Rimini, ItalyDepartment of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, ItalyDepartment for Life Quality Studies, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, Corso d’Augusto 237, 47921 Rimini, ItalyOxidative stress (OS) appears to be an important determinant during the different stages of progression of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). In particular, impaired antioxidant defense mechanisms, such as the decrease of glutathione (GSH) and nuclear factor erythroid 2 (NF-E2)-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a master regulator of antioxidant genes, including those for GSH, are associated with OS in the human AD brain. Among the neuropathological hallmarks of AD, the soluble oligomers of amyloid beta (A) peptides seem to promote neuronal death through mitochondrial dysfunction and OS. In this regard, bifunctional antioxidants can exert a dual neuroprotective role by scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) directly and concomitant induction of antioxidant genes. In this study, among natural coumarins (esculetin, scopoletin, fraxetin and daphnetin), we demonstrated the ability of esculetin (ESC) to prevent and counteract ROS formation in neuronal SH-SY5Y cells, suggesting its profile as a bifunctional antioxidant. In particular, ESC increased the resistance of the SH-SY5Y cells against OS through the activation of Nrf2 and increase of GSH. In similar experimental conditions, ESC could also protect the SH-SY5Y cells from the OS and neuronal death evoked by oligomers of A<sub>1–42</sub> peptides. Further, the use of the inhibitors PD98059 and LY294002 also showed that Erk1/2 and Akt signaling pathways were involved in the neuroprotection mediated by ESC. These results encourage further research in AD models to explore the efficacy and safety profile of ESC as a novel neuroprotective agent.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/9/6/551amyloid betaoxidative stressneuronal deathesculetinbifunctional antioxidants
spellingShingle Letizia Pruccoli
Fabiana Morroni
Giulia Sita
Patrizia Hrelia
Andrea Tarozzi
Esculetin as a Bifunctional Antioxidant Prevents and Counteracts the Oxidative Stress and Neuronal Death Induced by Amyloid Protein in SH-SY5Y Cells
Antioxidants
amyloid beta
oxidative stress
neuronal death
esculetin
bifunctional antioxidants
title Esculetin as a Bifunctional Antioxidant Prevents and Counteracts the Oxidative Stress and Neuronal Death Induced by Amyloid Protein in SH-SY5Y Cells
title_full Esculetin as a Bifunctional Antioxidant Prevents and Counteracts the Oxidative Stress and Neuronal Death Induced by Amyloid Protein in SH-SY5Y Cells
title_fullStr Esculetin as a Bifunctional Antioxidant Prevents and Counteracts the Oxidative Stress and Neuronal Death Induced by Amyloid Protein in SH-SY5Y Cells
title_full_unstemmed Esculetin as a Bifunctional Antioxidant Prevents and Counteracts the Oxidative Stress and Neuronal Death Induced by Amyloid Protein in SH-SY5Y Cells
title_short Esculetin as a Bifunctional Antioxidant Prevents and Counteracts the Oxidative Stress and Neuronal Death Induced by Amyloid Protein in SH-SY5Y Cells
title_sort esculetin as a bifunctional antioxidant prevents and counteracts the oxidative stress and neuronal death induced by amyloid protein in sh sy5y cells
topic amyloid beta
oxidative stress
neuronal death
esculetin
bifunctional antioxidants
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/9/6/551
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