[Protecting effect of Cistanche extracts on MPP+-induced injury of the Parkinson's disease cell model].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the potential protective role of Cistanche extracts on 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP(+))-induced Parkinson's disease (PD) cellular model, and to find out whether this effect is achieved through the regulation of growth arrest- and DNA damage-induced gene 153 (GADD153).

METHODS

MPP(+))-induced cellular injury and the protective effect of Cistanche extracts on the SH-SY5Y cell line viability treated by MPP(+)) were investigated by using methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay. The mRNA of GADD153 in SH-SY5Y cell line treated by MPP(+)) and Cistanche extracts were evaluated by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The protein level of GADD153 in SH-SY5Y was assessed by Western blotting.

RESULTS

Cistanche extracts (100 mug/ml) increased the cell viability (P<0.01). And the mRNA of GADD153 in the Cistanche extracts pretreatment group was much less than that in the MPP(+)) group (P<0.01). The result of Western blotting showed that GADD153 had a lower level in the Cistanche extracts pretreatment group, compared with MPP(+)) group, especially in the 100 microg/ml group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSION

Cistanche extracts pretreatment has a protective effect on the MPP(+))-treated SH-SY5Y cell line, and its down-regulation of GADD153 may contribute to the effect.