DHPA Protects SH-SY5Y Cells from Oxidative Stress-Induced Apoptosis via Mitochondria Apoptosis and the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling Pathway

Oxidative stress in the brain is highly related to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). It could be induced by the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), produced by the amyloid beta (A beta) peptide and excess copper (Cu) in senile plaques and cellular species, such as ascorbic acid (AA) and O-2. In this study, the protective effect of 5-hydroxy-7-(4 '-hydroxy-3 '-methoxyphenyl)-1-phenyl-3-heptanone (DHPA) on A beta((1-42))/Cu2+/AA mixture-treated SH-SY5Y cells was investigated via in vitro and in silico studies. The results showed that DHPA could inhibit A beta/Cu2+/AA-induced SH-SY5Y apoptosis, OH center dot production, intracellular ROS accumulation, and malondialdehyde (MDA) production. Further research demonstrated that DHPA could decrease the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 and repress the increase of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) of SH-SY5Y cells, to further suppress the activation of caspase-3, and inhibit cell apoptosis. Meanwhile, DHPA could inhibit the A beta/Cu2+/AA-induced phosphorylation of Erk1/2 and P38 in SH-SY5Y cells, and increase the expression of P-AKT. Furthermore, DHPA could bind to Keap1 to promote the separation of Nrf2 to Keap1 and activate the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway to increase the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO1), glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Thus, our results demonstrated that DHPA could inhibit A beta/Cu2+/AA-induced SH-SY5Y apoptosis via scavenging OH center dot, inhibit mitochondria apoptosis, and activate the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.

Automated summary

This study investigated the protective effect of 5-hydroxy-7-(4'-hydroxy-3'-methoxyphenyl)-1-phenyl-3-heptanone (DHPA) on A beta((1-42))/Cu2+/AA mixture-treated SH-SY5Y cells through in vitro and in silico studies. The results showed that DHPA could inhibit oxidative stress, cell apoptosis, and mitochondrial damage, as well as activate the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.