Berberine inhibits erastin-induced ferroptosis of mouse hippocampal neuronal cells possibly by activating the Nrf2-HO-1/GPX4 pathway.
10.12122/j.issn.1673-4254.2022.06.19
- Author:
Qing Yang HUANG
1
;
Dong Dong JI
1
;
Xiu Yun TIAN
1
;
Lin Yan MA
2
;
Xiao Jin SUN
2
Author Information
1. Department of Clinical Medicine, Biochemical Drugs Engineering and Technological Research Center of Anhui Province, Bengbu 233030, China.
2. Department of Pharmacy, Bengbu Medical College, Biochemical Drugs Engineering and Technological Research Center of Anhui Province, Bengbu 233030, China.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
HT22 cells;
Nrf2-HO-1/GPX4;
berberine;
erastin;
ferroptosis;
neuroprotection
- MeSH:
Animals;
Berberine/pharmacology*;
Ferroptosis;
Fluorescent Dyes;
Hippocampus/metabolism*;
Iron/metabolism*;
Mice;
NF-E2-Related Factor 2/metabolism*;
Piperazines;
Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism*
- From:
Journal of Southern Medical University
2022;42(6):937-943
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE:To explore the mechanism by which berberine inhibits ferroptosis of mouse hippocampal neuronal cells (HT22).
METHODS:Cultured HT22 cells were pretreated with 30 or 60 μmol/L berberine for 2 h before exposure to 0.5 μmol/L erastin for 8 h, and the cell proliferation, intracellular ferric iron level, changes in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cell apoptosis were detected using CCK-8, Fe2+ fluorescent probe, fluorescent dye (DAPI) and fluorescent probe (H2DCFH-DA). RT-qPCR and Western blotting were used to detect the mRNA and protein expressions of Nrf2, HO-1 and GPX4 in the cells. We further tested the effects of treatments with 2 μmol/L ML385 (a Nrf2 inhibitor), 60 μmol/L berberine and erastin in the cells to explore the protective mechanism of berberine against erastin-induced ferroptosis in the neuronal cells.
RESULTS:Treatment with 0.5 μmol/L erastin significantly lowered the viability of HT22 cells (P < 0.05) and increased the production of ROS, cell apoptosis rate and ferric iron level (P < 0.05). Pretreatment with 30 and 60 μmol/L berberine both significantly increased the vitality of erastin-exposed cells (P < 0.05) and lowered the levels of intracellular ROS and ferric iron content (P < 0.05). RT-qPCR and Western blotting showed that berberine obviously promoted the expressions of Nrf2, HO-1 and GPX4 in the cells (P < 0.05), and treatment with ML385 significantly inhibited the Nrf2-HO-1/GPX4 pathway, increased intracellular ROS and ferric iron contents and mitigated the protective effect of berberine against erastin-induced ferroptosis (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSION:Berberine can inhibit erastin-induced ferroptosis in HT22 cells possibly by activating the Nrf2-HO-1/ GPX4 pathway.
