Lycium extracts protect against β amyloid-induced pathological behaviors through UPRmt in transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans

Lycium barbarum, a classic Chinese medicine, has a large variety of biological activities, including improvements in immunity, as well as anti-aging and anti-oxidation activities. It has been used to improve or restore deteriorating functions related to aging and diseases. Although its nerve protection effects also have been proved in vitro and in vivo, the molecular mechanism of action is not clear. Here, we report on the effect and possible mechanisms of Lycium extract-mediated protection of Ab-induced paralysis in Caenorhabditis elegans. Lycium extracts effectively reduced Ab accumulation and delayed Ab-induced paralysis in a transgenic C. elegans (CL2006) model that expresses human Ab1–42. By evaluating the expression of genes related to the proteostasis network, we found that the expression of UPRmt, UPRER and autophagy-related genes was induced by Lycium extracts in CL2006 transgenic strains but not in the wild-type stains. Further RNAi experiments demonstrated that knock down of the UPRmt-related genes could reduce levels of down-regulation induced by Lycium extracts, suggesting that UPRmt is necessary for Lycium to prevent Ab aggregation and maintain protein stabilization. Therefore, our studies provide more insights into the action and molecular mechanism of Lycium barbarum as a potential neuroprotective agent.