Curcumin reduces hippocampal neuron apoptosis and JNK-3 phosphorylation in rats with Aβ-induced Alzheimer’s disease: protecting spatial learning and memory

Yun-liang Wang; Jin-feng Li; Yu-tong Wang; Chun-yang Xu; Lin-lin Hua; Xiao-peng Yang; Shuang Geng; Shan-shan Wang; Zhen Wang; Hong-lei Yin

doi:10.2147/JN.S125567

Journal of Neurorestoratology 2017, 5(1): 117-123 https://doi.org/10.2147/JN.S125567

Original Research |

Open Access | Issue | Published: 21 June 2017

Curcumin reduces hippocampal neuron apoptosis and JNK-3 phosphorylation in rats with Aβ-induced Alzheimer’s disease: protecting spatial learning and memory

Show Author's Information Hide Author's Information Yun-liang Wang^{¹^,²^,^*}, Jin-feng Li^{¹^,^*}, Yu-tong Wang^³, Chun-yang Xu^², Lin-lin Hua^², Xiao-peng Yang^², Shuang Geng^¹, Shan-shan Wang^¹, Zhen Wang^¹, Hong-lei Yin^¹(

)

1Neurology Department, 148th Hospital, Zibo, Shandong,

2Neurology Department, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou,

3Public Health Department, Henan University School of Medicine, Kaifeng, Henan, People’s Republic of China

*These authors contributed equally to this work

Keywords:

Alzheimer’s disease, curcumin, apoptosis, JNK-3, phosphorylation

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Wang Y-l, Li J-f, Wang Y-t, et al. Curcumin reduces hippocampal neuron apoptosis and JNK-3 phosphorylation in rats with Aβ-induced Alzheimer’s disease: protecting spatial learning and memory. Journal of Neurorestoratology, 2017, 5(1): 117-123. https://doi.org/10.2147/JN.S125567

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Abstract

Amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) toxicity in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is associated with the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway. Curcumin may prevent Aβ fiber formation, slowing AD progression. A model of AD was established in 32 Sprague Dawley rats by injection of 10 μg Aβ_1–40 into the right hippocampus. Saline was used in sham control (n=16). Sixteen AD model rats received 300 mg/kg curcumin and another 16 received saline daily for 7 days. Spatial learning and memory were assessed using a Morris water maze. Hippocampus neuron apoptosis and hippocampal levels of JNK-3 and p-JNK-3 were assessed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. Aβ_1–40 injection induced slower spatial learning, memory deficit, neuronal apoptosis and increased JNK-3 expression and phosphorylation (all P<0.05). Curcumin relieved spatial learning and memory deficits, hippocampus neuronal apoptosis, and reduced JNK-3 and p-JNK-3 levels (all P<0.05). In conclusion, curcumin may inhibit JNK-3 phosphorylation to protect against hippocampal neuron apoptosis after Aβ injection.

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Curcumin reduces hippocampal neuron apoptosis and JNK-3 phosphorylation in rats with Aβ-induced Alzheimer’s disease: protecting spatial learning and memory

Show Author's information Hide Author's Information Yun-liang Wang^{¹^,²^,^*}, Jin-feng Li^{¹^,^*}, Yu-tong Wang^³, Chun-yang Xu^², Lin-lin Hua^², Xiao-peng Yang^², Shuang Geng^¹, Shan-shan Wang^¹, Zhen Wang^¹, Hong-lei Yin^¹(

)

1Neurology Department, 148th Hospital, Zibo, Shandong,

2Neurology Department, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou,

3Public Health Department, Henan University School of Medicine, Kaifeng, Henan, People’s Republic of China

*These authors contributed equally to this work

Abstract

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, curcumin, apoptosis, JNK-3, phosphorylation

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Published: 21 June 2017

Issue date: December 2017

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under the grant number 30770762. Our sincere thanks to Dr Ming-yao Du and Jing Zhao, who made great contributions to the behavioral tests.

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