The present study describes potential beneficial and adverse effects of plant-extract synthesized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on ethanol toxicity in SH-SY5Y cells. Although kudzu root extract (K), edible-gum extract (G), alone or in combination (KG), reduced Au3+ into AuNPs, the extract's composition and the reaction temperature determined their size (AuNPKG(90<50<37) << AuNPK(90,50<37) < AuNPG(...

Previously, we found that neurosteroids inhibited hydrogen peroxide- and staurosporine-induced damage of undifferentiated human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. However, differentiated neuroblastoma cells morphologically and functionally resemble neuronal cells, and are thus considered to be a model system for studying neuronal apoptotic processes. In the present study, we examined the effects of d...

BACKGROUND Infections can aggravate the course of neurodegenerative diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Mutations in the anti-oxidant enzyme Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1, SOD1) are associated with familial ALS. Streptococcus pneumoniae, the most frequent respiratory pathogen, causes damage by the action of the cholesterol-binding virulence factor pneumolysin and b...

BACKGROUND CONTEXT Painful human intervertebral discs (IVDs) exhibit nerve growth deep into the IVD. Current treatments for discogenic back pain do not address the underlying mechanisms propagating pain and are often highly invasive or only offer temporary symptom relief. The notochord produces factors during development that pattern the spine and inhibit the growth of dorsal root ganglion (DRG...

There is concern regarding neurotoxicity induced by the use of local anesthetics. A previous study showed that an overload of intracellular calcium is involved in the neurotoxic effect of some anesthetics. T-type calcium channels, which lower the threshold of action potentials, can regulate the influx of calcium ions. We hypothesized that T-type calcium channels are involved in bupivacaine-indu...

Administration of rotenone to rats reproduces many features of Parkinson’s disease, including dopaminergic neuron degeneration, and provides a useful model to study the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease. However, the cell death mechanisms induced by rotenone and potential neuroprotective mechanisms against rotenone are not well defined. Here we report that rotenone-induced apoptosis in human ...

Integrins are transmembrane receptors that promote neurite growth and guidance. To identify regulators of integrin-dependent neurite outgrowth, here we used two loss of function genetic screens in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. First, we screened a genome-wide retroviral library of genetic suppressor elements (GSEs). Among the many genes identified in the GSE screen, we isolated the hematopoetic ...

All-trans-retinoic acid (RA) plays a crucial role in survival and differentiation of neurons. For elucidating signaling mechanisms involved in RA-induced neuronal differentiation, we have selected SH-SY5Y cells, which are an established in vitro cell model for studying RA signaling. Here we report that RA-induced neuronal differentiation of SH-SY5Y cells is coupled with increased expression/act...

Mumps virus (MuV) infects various organs including central nervous system (CNS). However, the molecular basis of the neural cell specificity of MuV is not well understood. We found that the Hoshino vaccine strain rescued from cDNA replicated moderately in neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell line, while an Urabe strain (Ur89-250) isolated from a post-vaccination aseptic meningitis case replicated efficie...

We previously found that Ratanasampil (RNSP), a traditional Tibetan medicine, improves the cognitive function of mild-to-moderate AD patients living at high altitude, as well as learning and memory in an AD mouse model (Tg2576); however, mechanism underlying the effects of RNSP is unknown. In the present study, we investigated the effects and molecular mechanisms of RNSP on oxidative stress-ind...