Planta Med 2006; 72(14): 1300-1304
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-951690
Original Paper
Pharmacology
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Tetrandrine Selectively Protects against Amyloid-β Protein - but not against MPTP-Induced Cytotoxicity in SK-N-SH Neuroblastoma Cells

Wen-Fei Chiou1 , 2 , Wan-Shin Lee3 , Pen-Ho Yeh3
  • 1National Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
  • 2Institute of Life Science, National Tai-Tung University, Taitung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
  • 3Institute of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Further Information

Publication History

Received: January 12, 2006

Accepted: August 21, 2006

Publication Date:
18 October 2006 (online)

Abstract

The evidence for loss of Ca2+ homeostasis due to neuronal degeneration is considerable and rapidly increasing. In this study, we try to evaluate the protective effect of tetrandrine (TET), an alkaloid isolated from the Chinese medicinal herb Radix Stephania tetrandrae S., on amyloid-β protein (Aβ) and 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) induced cell death in SK-N-SH neuroblastoma cells. Both compounds reduced cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner after 72 h in culture. Cell proliferation in the presence of 20 μM Aβ or 0.4 mM MPTP was reduced to 58.3 ± 4.9 or 54.9 ± 5.5 %, respectively. TET (0.1, 0.5 and 1 μM) alone had no significant effect on cell survival; however, it prevented Aβ-induced cell death in a concentration-dependent manner. In contrast, TET failed to counteract MPTP-induced cytotoxicity. Also, an L-type calcium channel blocker, nimodipine, solely reversed Aβ-induced cell death. On the other hand, ELISA determination of mono-/oligo-nucleosomes accumulation showed that the mode of cell death evoked by Aβ was necrosis while that evoked by MPTP was presumably apoptosis. These results suggest that TET may mitigate the harmful effects of Aβ on cell survival, probably by interfering via the necrotic signal related to Ca2+ overloading through the L-type calcium channel.

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Wen-Fei Chiou, Ph. D.

Division of Basic Chinese Medical Research,

National Research Institute of Chinese Medicine

No. 155-1, Sec. 2, Li-Nung St.

Shipai

Taipei 112

Taiwan

Republic of China

Phone: +886-2-282-0199 (4481)

Fax: +886-2-2826-4343

Email: wfchiou@cma23.nricm.edu.tw