The aqueous extract of Glycyrrhiza inflata can upregulate unfolded protein response-mediated chaperones to reduce tau misfolding in cell models of Alzheimer’s disease

Kuo Hsuan Chang, I. Cheng Chen, Hsuan Yuan Lin, Hsuan Chiang Chen, Chih Hsin Lin, Te Hsien Lin, Yu Ting Weng, Chih Ying Chao, Yih Ru Wu, Jung Yaw Lin, Guey Jen Lee-Chen*, Chiung Mei Chen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

25 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and several neurodegenerative disorders known as tauopathies are characterized by misfolding and aggregation of tau protein. Although several studies have suggested the potential of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as treatment for neurodegenerative diseases, the role of TCM in treating AD and tauopathies have not been well explored. Materials and methods: Tau protein was coupled to the DsRed fluorophore by fusing a pro-aggregation mutant of repeat domain of tau (ΔK280 tauRD) with DsRed. The ΔK280 tauRD-DsRed fusion gene was then used to generate Tet-On 293 and SH-SY5Y cell clones as platforms to test the efficacy of 39 aqueous extracts of TCM in reducing tau misfolding and in neuroprotection. Results: Seven TCM extracts demonstrated a significant reduction in tau misfolding and reactive oxidative species with low cytotoxicity in the ΔK280 tauRD-DsRed 293 cell model. Glycyrrhiza inflata and Panax ginseng also demonstrated the potential to improve neurite outgrowth in the ∆K280 tauRD-DsRed SH-SY5Y neuronal cell model. G. inflata further rescued the upregulation of ERN2 (pro-apoptotic) and downregulation of unfolded-protein-response-mediated chaperones ERP44, DNAJC3, and SERP1 in ΔK280 tauRD-DsRed 293 cells. Conclusion: This in vitro study provides evidence that G. inflata may be a novel therapeutic for AD and tauopathies. Future applications of G. inflata on animal models of AD and tauopathies are warranted to corroborate its effect of reducing misfolding and potential disease modification.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)885-896
Number of pages12
JournalDrug Design, Development and Therapy
Volume10
DOIs
StatePublished - 29 02 2016

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 Chang et al.

Keywords

  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • G. inflata
  • TCM extracts
  • Tau misfolding
  • Tauopathy
  • UPR-mediated chaperones

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