Abstract
Berberine (BBR) is a well-known anti-diabetic herbal medicine in Asia due to its beneficial effects on insulin sensitivity, glucose metabolism and glycolysis. Here, we identified the critical role of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt involved BBR cellular defense mechanisms and first revealed the novel effect of BBR on nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-related factor-2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase (HO)-1 induction in NSC34 motor neuron-like cells. BBR (0.1-10 nM) led to increasing insulin receptor expression, Akt phosphorylation and enhanced oxidant-sensitive Nrf2/HO-1 induction, which were blocked by a PI3K inhibitor, LY294002. In H(2)O(2)-treated cells, BBR significantly attenuated ROS production and increased cell viability, antioxidant defense (GSH and SOD) and oxidant-sensitive proteins (HO-1 and Nrf2), which also were blocked by LY294002. Furthermore, BBR improved mitochondrial function by increasing mitochondrial membrane potential and decreasing the oxygen consumption rate. BBR-induced anti-apoptotic function was demonstrated by increasing anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and survival of motor neuron protein (SMN) and by decreasing apoptotic proteins (cytochrome c, Bax and caspase). These results suggest that BBR, which is active at nanomolar concentration, is a potential neuroprotective agent via PI3K/Akt-dependent cytoprotective and antioxidant pathways.
Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Active Transport, Cell Nucleus / drug effects
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Animals
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Antioxidants / pharmacology*
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Apoptosis / drug effects
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Berberine / pharmacology*
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Cell Line, Tumor
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Chromones / pharmacology
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Cytoprotection
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Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
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Glutathione / metabolism
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Heme Oxygenase-1 / metabolism
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Hydrogen Peroxide / toxicity
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Membrane Proteins / metabolism
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Mice
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Mitochondria / drug effects
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Mitochondria / metabolism
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Morpholines / pharmacology
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Motor Neurons / drug effects*
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Motor Neurons / enzymology
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Motor Neurons / pathology
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NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / metabolism*
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Neuroprotective Agents / pharmacology*
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Oxidants / toxicity
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Oxidative Stress / drug effects*
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Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase / metabolism*
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Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism*
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Receptor, IGF Type 1 / drug effects
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Receptor, IGF Type 1 / metabolism
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Receptor, Insulin / drug effects
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Receptor, Insulin / metabolism
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Signal Transduction / drug effects
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Superoxide Dismutase / metabolism
Substances
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Antioxidants
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Chromones
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Membrane Proteins
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Morpholines
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NF-E2-Related Factor 2
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Neuroprotective Agents
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Nfe2l2 protein, mouse
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Oxidants
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Protein Kinase Inhibitors
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Berberine
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2-(4-morpholinyl)-8-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one
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Hydrogen Peroxide
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Heme Oxygenase-1
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Hmox1 protein, mouse
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Superoxide Dismutase
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Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase
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Receptor, IGF Type 1
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Receptor, Insulin
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
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Glutathione