Author(s)

Weidong Cheng^1,2*, Anqi Huang^1,2*, Li Zhang^1,2*, Depeng Feng^1,2, Xiaoqian Sun^1,2, Hengyi Xu^1,2, Qianru Sun^2,3, Xueli Li^1,2#

¹Department of Neurology, Liaocheng People’s Hospital, Liaocheng, China.
²Liaocheng School of Clinical Medicine, Shandong First Medical University, Liaocheng, China.
³Department of Neuroimmune Laboratory, Liaocheng People’s Hospital, Liaocheng, China.

Objective: To explore the underlying molecular mechanisms of cellular response to the challenge by 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP⁺)-induced apoptosis of PC12 cells, an in vitro cell model for Parkinson’s disease, and the effect of NF-κB activation on the protection of Parkinson’s disease by Isoflavone (I). Methods: PC12 cells were used to establish the cell model of Parkinson’s disease, and are divided into five groups: control group; MPP⁺ group; I (Isoflavone) + MPP⁺ group; I group; SN-50 + MPP⁺ group. The content of NF-κB in PC12 cells was determined by immunocytochemistry; The viability of PC12 cells after treated with cell-permeable NF-κB inhibitor SN-50 and cell viability were measured by MTT assay; the expression levels of NF-κB p65 in cytoplasm and nuclear fractions were evaluated by western blot analysis; the mRNA expression of NF-κB p65 was analyzed by in situ hybridization (ISH). Results: Compared with the control group, the protein of NF-κB p65 both in cytoplasm and in nuclei was significantly higher than in I + MPP⁺ and MPP⁺ groups; similarly, the mRNA expression level of NF-κB p65 gene was also significantly higher; moreover, the protein expression of NF-κB p65 was much lower in I group (P < 0.05). In addition, compared with the MPP⁺ group, the protein of NF-κB p65 was significantly lower in I + MPP⁺ group, the mRNA expression level of NF-κB p65 gene was also significantly lower, and the protein expression level of NF-κB p65 was much lower in I + MPP⁺ group (P < 0.05); however, there was no significant difference between control group and I + MPP⁺ group (P > 0.05). Conclusion: NF-κB activation is essential to MPP⁺-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells; but Isoflavone can inhibit the cell damage to some extent to execute its protective function, which may be involved in nigral neurodegeneration in patients with Parkinson’s disease.

Isoflavone, PC12 Cell, MPP⁺, Apoptosis, NF-κB p65, Nuclear Transcription Factor Kappa B, Parkinson’s Disease

Cheng, W. , Huang, A. , Zhang, L. , Feng, D. , Sun, X. , Xu, H. , Sun, Q. and Li, X. (2020) Isoflavone Attenuates the Nuclear Transcription Factor Kappa B (NF-κB) Activation on MPP⁺-Induced Apoptosis of PC12 Cells. Journal of Behavioral and Brain Science, 10, 191-199. doi: 10.4236/jbbs.2020.105012.