2023, Vol. 27 ›› Issue (2): 177-183

Ginsenoside Rg3 protects PC12 cells against oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation-induced damage

Zhong Jinglin, Cao Huimin, Pan Yaru, Jian Wenxuan, Wang Qi   

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Ginsenoside Rg3 can protect the brain from ischemia injury. However, it is unclear whether ginsenoside Rg3 can protect PC12 cell against oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) injury.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective role and underlying mechanism of ginsenoside Rg3 in OGD/R-injured PC12 cells.
METHODS: A model of OGD/R-injured PC12 cells was constructed. Protective effects of ginsenoside Rg3 at different concentrations on OGD/R-injured PC12 cells were detected using MTT, lactic dehydrogenase, Calcein-AM/PI cell apoptosis double staining assay, western blot assay, and flow cytometry. PI3K/AKT pathway inhibitor LY294002 and AKT activator SC79 were involved to reveal the potential mechanisms of ginsenoside Rg3.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) In this study, OGD/R exposure successfully induced cell injury, which reduced cell survival and promoted cell apoptosis in a time-dependent manner, up-regulated p-AKT/AKT and p-PI3K/PI3K ratio, increased the levels of NLRP3 inflammasomes, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β and BAX, and promoted the release of lactic dehydrogenase. (2) Ginsenoside Rg3 at a certain range enhanced the viability and reduced apoptosis and lactic dehydrogenase release of OGD/R-injured PC12 cells. Ginsenoside Rg3 down-regulated the ratio of p-AKT/AKT and p-PI3K/PI3K, reduced NLRP3, interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α and BAX levels. Ginsenoside Rg3 also suppressed the expression of activated caspase-9 and up-regulated the expression of activated caspase-3. (3) LY294002 shared the same protective effect as ginsenoside Rg3 whereas SC79 reversed this outcome. Therefore, ginsenoside Rg3 protects PC12 cells from OGD/R injury mainly through inhibiting the PI3K/AKT pathway and phosphorylation of PI3K and AKT, which may exert an anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effect.
Key words: ginsenoside Rg3, oxygen-glucose deprivation, reoxygenation, PC12 cell, PI3K/Akt signaling pathway