BDMC protects AD in vitro via AMPK and SIRT1

Background

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder without any satisfactory therapeutic approaches. AD is mainly characterized by the deposition of β-amyloid protein (Aβ) and extensive neuronal cell death. Curcumin, with anti-oxidative stress (OS) and cell apoptosis properties, plays essential roles in AD. However, whether bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC), a derivative of curcumin, can exert a neuroprotective effect in AD remains to be elucidated.

Methods

In this study, SK-N-SH cells were used to establish an in vitro model to investigate the effects of BDMC on the Aβ_1–42-induced neurotoxicity. SK-N-SH cells were pretreated with BDMC and with or without compound C and EX527 for 30 min after co-incubation with rotenone for 24 h. Subsequently, western blotting, cell viability assay and SOD and GSH activity measurement were performed.

Results

BDMC increased the cell survival, anti-OS ability, AMPK phosphorylation levels and SIRT1 in SK-N-SH cells treated with Aβ_1–42. However, after treatment with compound C, an AMPK inhibitor, and EX527, an SIRT1inhibitor, the neuroprotective roles of BDMC on SK-N-SH cells treated with Aβ_1–42 were inhibited.

Conclusion

These results suggest that BDMC exerts a neuroprotective role on SK-N-SH cells in vitro via AMPK/SIRT1 signaling, laying the foundation for the application of BDMC in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases related to AMPK/SIRT1 signaling.

Bisdemethoxycurcumin exerts a cell-protective effect via JAK2/STAT3 signaling in a rotenone-induced Parkinson's disease model in vitro

INTRODUCTION

Oxidative stress and cell apoptosis have both been suggested to be closely associated with the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Previously, bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC) has been shown to exhibit several desirable characteristics as a candidate neuroprotective agent, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in the nervous system. However, whether BDMC can exert cell-protective roles in an in vitro model of PD remains unknown.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

SH-SY5Y cells were pretreated with BDMC, with or without AG490 and SI-201, for 30 min, followed by a co-incubation with rotenone for 24 h. Subsequently, a cell viability assay and western blotting was performed, and SOD and GSH activities were analyzed.

RESULTS

The results revealed that the pretreatment with BDMC enhanced the cell survival, antioxidative stress capacity and the phosphorylation levels of JAK/STAT3 in SH-SY5Y cells treated with rotenone. However, following the incubation with AG490 and SI-201, inhibitors of the JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway, BDMC was unable to exert cell-protective roles in SH-SY5Y cells treated with rotenone.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, the results suggested that BDMC may exert a cell-protective role in SH-SY5Y cells in vitro via JAK2/STAT3 signaling, thus suggesting the possible application of BDMC for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases related to JAK2/STAT3 signaling.

Bisdemethoxycurcumin Enhances the Sensitivity of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Cells to Icotinib via Dual Induction of Autophagy and Apoptosis

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) wild-type is intrinsic resistance to EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). In this study, we assessed whether the combination of bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC) and icotinib could surmount primary EGFR-TKI resistance in NSCLC cells and investigated its molecular mechanism. Results showed that the combination of BDMC and icotinib produced potently synergistic growth inhibitory effect on primary EGFR-TKI-resistant NSCLC cell lines H460 (EGFR wild-type and K-ras mutation) and H1781 (EGFR wild-type and Her2 mutation). Compared with BDMC or icotinib alone, the two drug combination induced more significant apoptosis and autophagy via suppressing EGFR activity and interaction of Sp1 and HDCA1/HDCA2, which was accompanied by accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), induction of DNA damage, and inhibition of cell migration and invasion. ROS inhibitor (NAC) and autophagy inhibitors (CQ or 3-MA) partially reversed BDMC plus icotinib-induced growth inhibitory effect on the NSCLC cells. Meanwhile, co-treatment with NAC attenuated the two drug combination-induced autophagy, apoptosis, DNA damage and decrease of cell migration and invasion ability. Also, 3-MA or CQ can abate the combination treatment-induced apoptosis and DNA damage, suggesting that there is crosstalk between different signaling pathways in the effect produced by the combination treatment. Our data indicate that BMDC has the potential to improve the treatment of primary EGFR-TKI resistant NISCLC that cannot be controlled with single-target agent, such as icotinib.

Combinational treatment of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC)-induced apoptosis in liver cancer Hep3B cells

The effects of two-drug combination, all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC), on apoptosis induction of liver cancer cells were investigated in human liver Hep 3B cells. Two-drug combination caused a more effective decrease in cell viability and in induction of S phase arrest, DNA damage, and cell apoptosis than that of ATRA or BDMC only. Also, the two-drug combination caused more cells to undergo significantly increased ROS productions when compared to that of ATRA or BDMC only. Results of Western blotting demonstrated that two-drug combination increased expressions of Fas, pro-apoptotic proteins, and active form of caspase-3 and -9, but decreased that of anti-apoptotic proteins and XIAP than that of ATRA or BDMC only in Hep 3B cells. In conclusion, ATRA combined with BDMC enhance cell apoptosis and associated protein expression in Hep 3B cells. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC) derived from natural plants, turmeric (Curcuma longa), which had been used for Asia food for thousands of years. All-trans retinoid acid (ATRA) is currently used as a primary treatment for patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia. In previous study, ATRA and BDMC were reported to have anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects. Our results showed that treatment of ATRA combined with BDMC showed more effectively apoptosis than that of ATRA or BDMC only in Hep 3B cells. The findings also provided possible pathways concerning the induction of liver cancer cell apoptosis. We conclude that ATRA combined with BDMC may be potent anticancer agents or adjuvants for liver cancer therapy in the future.

Bisdemethoxycurcumin Inhibits Adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 Preadipocytes and Suppresses Obesity in High-Fat Diet-Fed C57BL/6 Mice

Obesity is caused by excessive accumulation of body fat and is closely related to complex metabolic diseases. Adipogenesis is a key process that is required in adipocyte hypertrophy in the development of obesity. Curcumin (Cur) has been reported to inhibit adipocyte differentiation, but the inhibitory effects of other curcuminoids present in turmeric, such as demethoxycurcumin (DMC) and bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC), on adipogenesis have not been investigated. Here, we investigated the effects of curcuminoids on adipogenesis and the molecular mechanisms of adipocyte differentiation. Among three curcuminoids, BDMC was the most effective suppressor of lipid accumulation in adipocytes. BDMC suppressed adipogenesis in the early stage primarily through attenuation of mitotic clonal expansion (MCE). In BDMC-treated preadipocytes, cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase was found after initiation of adipogenesis and was accompanied by downregulation of cyclin A, cyclin B, p21, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling. The protein levels of the adipogenic transcription factors peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)γ and CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins (C/EBP)α were also reduced by BDMC treatment. Furthermore, 0.5% dietary BDMC (w/w) significantly lowered body weight gain and adipose tissue mass in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. The results of H&E staining showed that dietary BDMC reduced hypertrophy in adipocytes. These results demonstrate for the first time that BDMC suppressed adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and prevented HFD-induced obesity. Our results suggest that BDMC has the potential to prevent obesity.