Mesenchymal stem cells after the proprocessing of tanshinone IIA attenuate cognitive deficits and oxidative stress injury in an amyloid β-peptide (25-35)-induced rodent model of Alzheimer's disease

Objectives To verify whether mesenchymal stem cells cocultured with tanshinone IIA may ameliorate Alzheimer's disease by inhibiting oxidative stress. Methods Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups named Sham, A beta(25-35), mesenchymal stem cells, and mesenchymal stem cells (tanshinone IIA). The rats were treated according to different groups. The neurobehavioral performance of Sprague-Dawley rats was evaluated via Morris water maze test. Histological changes were checked via hematoxylin-eosin staining. The levels of total antioxidant activity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) and malondialdehyde in hippocampus were assayed by ELISA kit. The levels of A beta, p-tau/tau. and p-AMP-activated protein kinase/AMP-activated protein kinase in hippocampus were checked by Western blot. Results Our research showed that the injection of mesenchymal stem cells (tanshinone IIA) into the hippocampus alleviated learning and memory deficits and reduced hippocampal neuronal injury in the Alzheimer's disease rats. Moreover, mesenchymal stem cells (tanshinone IIA) treatment suppressed oxidative stress, attenuated A beta accumulation reduced Tau hyperphosphorylation, and enhanced the activity of AMP-activated protein kinase in the hippocampus of the Alzheimer's disease rats. However, there were almost no significant difference between the mesenchymal stem cells and A beta(25-35) groups. Conclusions Mesenchymal stem cells (tanshinone IIA) transplantation may be a potential treatment for curing Alzheimer's disease, which may be related to the inhibition of oxidative stress. Copyright (C) 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study investigated the effect of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and tanshinone IIA on Alzheimer's disease (AD) and oxidative stress. The results showed that the injection of MSCs (tanshinone IIA) into the hippocampus improved learning and memory deficits, reduced neuronal injury, suppressed oxidative stress, and attenuated Aβ accumulation and Tau hyperphosphorylation in AD rats. The transplantation of MSCs (tanshinone IIA) may be a potential therapeutic approach for AD by inhibiting oxidative stress.