Hydrogen sulfide inhibits beta-amyloid peptide-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells and the underlying mechanisms

作者：Chen Xiuqin^*; Li Jingtian; Zou Jinhui; Li Bailing; Wang Meng

来源：Neural Regeneration Research, 2008, 3(9): 939-944.

• apoptosis
• beta-amyloid peptide
• cytoprotection
• hydrogen sulfide
• mitochondrial membrane potential
• reactive oxygen species

BACKGROUND: Studies have demonstrated that hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) levels are 55% lower in brains of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients than in age-matched normal individuals, which suggests that H(2)S might be involved in some aspects of AD pathogenesis.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the protective mechanisms of varied concentrations of H(2)S against beta-amyloid-peptide (A beta) induced apoptosis in pheochromoytoma (PC12) cells, and to analyze the pathway of action.
DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: A controlled, observational, in vitro experiment was performed at Neurophysiology Laboratory in Zhongshan Medical School, Sun Yat-sen University between July 2006 and May 2007.
MATERIALS: PC12 cells were provided by the Animal Experimental Center of Medical School of Sun Yat-sen University. Glybenclamide, rhodamine123, and dihydrorhodamine123 were purchased from Sigma (USA).
METHODS: PC12 cells were incubated at 37 degrees C in a 5% CO(2)-enriched incubator with RPMI-1640 medium, supplemented with 5% horse-serum and 10% fetal bovine serum. Cells in logarithmic growth curves received different treatment: The PC12 cells were maintains at 37 degrees C with the original medium, then incubated in A beta(25-35), sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), glybenclamide, NaHS+ A beta(25-35), or pretreated with glybenclamide 30 minutes prior to administration of and A beta(25-35), respectively.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: (1) The survival rate of PC12 cells was detected by MTT assay and Hoechst staining. (2) The apoptosis rate of PC12 cells was detected utilizing flow cytometry with propidium iodide staining, and morphological changes of apoptotic cells were observed. (3) The mitochondrial membrane potential was detected by Rhodamine 123-combined flow cytometry. (4) The intracellular reactive oxygen species content was detected by dihydrorhodamine 123-combined flow cytometry.
RESULTS: A beta(25-35) induced significantly decreased viability and increased percentage of apoptosis in PC12 cells, is well as dissipated mitochondrial membrane potential expression and an overproduction of reactive oxygen species. When PC12 cells were co-treated with NaHS and A beta(25-35) the decreased cell viability induced by 20 mu mol/L A beta(25-35) was concentration-dependently blocked by NaHS (50, 100, and 200 mu mol/L). NaHS (100 mu mol/L) obviously reduced the percentage of apoptotic PC12 cells induced by 20 mu mol/L A beta(25-35). In addition, 100 mu mol/L NaHS inhibited mitochondrial membrane potential dissipation and reactive oxygen species overproduction. When the ATP-sensitive K channel (K(ATP)) inhibitor, glybenclamide, was administered 30 minutes prior to NaHS and A beta(25-35) treatment, the NaHS-dependent cellular protection was partly blocked. This resulted in reduced PC12 cell viability and increased the percentage of apoptosis, as well as significantly blocked mitochondrial membrane potential preservation and inhibited reactive oxygen species overproduction due to NaHS treatment.
CONCLUSION: NaHS protected PC12 cells against A beta(25-35)-induced damage. NaHS-dependent cellular protection was associated with mitochondrial membrane potential preservation and inhibition of reactive oxygen species overproduction. The K(ATP) channel inhibitor, glybenclamide, significantly blocked the cellular protective effects of NaHS, indicating that K(ATP) channel activation plays an important role in NaHS-induced protection of PC12 cells to A beta(25-35)-induced damage.

• 出版日期2008-9
• 单位韶关学院