Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Aloperine attenuates high glucose-induced oxidative injury in Schwann cells via activation of NRF2/HO-1 pathway

Yiran Chen¹, Tieming Ma¹ , Zhimin Wang², Lianqun Jia³, Xiaoqing Zhang¹, Qingxuan He¹, Sijia Liu¹

¹College of Acupuncture and Massage, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; ²Department of Endocrinology, Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; ³Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Viscera-State Theory and Applications, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenyang City, Liaoning Province 110000, China.

For correspondence:- Tieming Ma Email: TiemingMadkl@163.com Tel:+862431207131

Accepted: 26 May 2020 Published: 30 June 2020

Citation: Chen Y, Ma T, Wang Z, Jia L, Zhang X, He Q, et al. Aloperine attenuates high glucose-induced oxidative injury in Schwann cells via activation of NRF2/HO-1 pathway. Trop J Pharm Res 2020; 19(6):1147-1152 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v19i6.4

© 2020 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To determine the involvement of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in the action of aloperine on Schwann cell injury caused by high glucose (HG).

Methods: Cell viability was determined using MTT assay while the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was determined by biochemical assay. Apoptosis was assessed using flow cytometry, while the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) were determined by Annexin V-FIT staining. Glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results: Treatment with HG suppressed RSC96 cell viability and increased LDH release, while aloperine reversed these results (p < 0.05). Apoptosis of RSC96 cells was induced by HG stimulation, but was abolished by aloperine. The levels of ROS, MDA, and GST were enhanced in cells following treatment with HG, but was reversed by aloperine (p < 0.05). The decreased level of GPX caused by HG in RSC96 cells was elevated by aloperine. Moreover, aloperine upregulated NRF2 and HO-1 in RSC96 cells treated with HG (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Aloperine attenuates HG-induced oxidative injury in Schwann cells via activation of NRF2/HO-1 pathway, suggesting its potential as a potent drug for the management of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Keywords: Aloperine, Schwann cells, High glucose, Oxidative stress, NRF2, HO-1