γ-Glutamylcysteine ameliorates D-gal-induced senescence in PC12 cells and mice via activating AMPK and SIRT1

Aging is a natural process accompanied by inflammation and oxidative stress and is closely associated with age-related diseases. As a direct precursor of glutathione, gamma-glutamylcysteine (gamma-GC) possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties; however, whether gamma-GC plays an important role in anti-aging remains unknown. Here, we investigated the protective effects and mechanisms of gamma-GC in D-galactose (D-gal)-induced senescence in PC12 cells and aging mice. Our results showed that gamma-GC treatment significantly reduced the percentage of senescence-associated-beta-galactosidase (SA-beta-Gal)-positive cells and inhibited D-gal-induced cell cycle arrest in PC12 cells. The results of Nissl and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining in mouse brain showed that gamma-GC treatment markedly reversed the damage in the hippocampus of D-gal-induced aging mice. Moreover, gamma-GC increased the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) to promote the nuclear translocation of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) while inhibiting the nuclear translocation of deleted in breast cancer 1 (DBC1), which leads to the activation of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and deacetylation of p53 in the nucleus. Therefore, gamma-GC may be a potential therapeutic candidate compound for the prevention and treatment of age-related diseases.

Automated summary

Gamma-GC exhibits anti-aging effects by reducing cell senescence and hippocampal damage in PC12 cells and aging mice. The protective effects of gamma-GC are mediated through the activation of AMPK and SIRT1 pathways.