Effect of Lycium bararum polysaccharides on methylmercury-induced abnormal differentiation of hippocampal stem cells

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to observe the effects of a general extract of Lycium bararum polysaccharides (LBPs) on methylmercury (MeHg)-induced damage in hippocampus neural stem cells (hNSCs). The hippocampal tissues of embryonic day 16 Sprague-Dawley rats were extracted for the isolation, purification and cloning of hNSCs. Following passage and proliferation for 10 days, the cells were allocated at random into the following groups: Control, LBPs, MeHg and MeHg + LBPs. MTT and microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP-2)/glial fibrillary acidic protein/Hoechst immunofluorescence tests were performed to detect the differentiation and growth of hNSCs in the various groups. The differentiation rate of MeHg-treated hNSCs and the perimeter of MAP-2-positive neurons were 3.632±0.63% and 62.36±5.58 µm, respectively, significantly lower compared with the control group values of 6.500±0.81% and 166±8.16 µm (P<0.05). Furthermore, the differentiation rate and the perimeter of MAP-2-positive neurons in LBPs groups cells was 7.75±0.59% and 253.3±11.21 µm, respectively, significantly higher compared with the control group (P<0.05). The same parameters in the MeHg + LBPs group were 5.92±0.98% and 111.9±6.07 µm, respectively, significantly higher than the MeHg group (P<0.05). The astrocyte differentiation rates in the MeHg and MeHg + LBPs group were 41.19±2.14 and 34.58±1.70, respectively (P<0.05). These results suggest that LBPs may promote the generation and development of new neurons and inhibit the MeHg-induced abnormal differentiation of astrocytes. Thus, LBPs may be considered to be a potential new treatment for MeHg-induced neurotoxicity in hNSCs.

Lycium�barbarum polysaccharides protect human trophoblast HTR8/SVneo cells from hydrogen peroxide‑induced oxidative stress and apoptosis

“…LBP was purchased from Qinghai General Health Bio-science Co., LLC (Xining, China) and the purity of LBP was >50%. HTR8/SVneo cells were treated with different concentrations (100, 200 and 400 µg/ml) of LBP dissolved in PBS for 6 h. H 2 O 2 (250 µmol/l; Sigma-Aldrich; Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany) was subsequently added to treat cells for 6 h. There were five experimental groups in total: LBP1 + H 2 O 2 (cells treated with 100 µg/ml LBP and 250 µmol/l H 2 O 2 ), LBP2 + H 2 O 2 (cells treated with 200 µg/ml LBP and 250 µmol/l H 2 O 2 ), LBP3 + H 2 O 2 (cells treated with 400 µg/ml LBP and 250 µmol/l H 2 O 2 ), H 2 O 2 (cells treated with 250 µmol/l H 2 O 2 ) and control (without treatment) ( 22 – 24 ).…”

Lycium barbarum polysaccharides promoted proliferation and differentiation in osteoblasts

“…For example, quercetin facilitated the differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells into osteoblasts . Besides, traditional Chinese medicine with kidney‐tonifying, spleen‐tonifying, and stasis‐removing effects promoted osteoblast‐mediated bone formation by the expressions of bone‐specific matrix proteins, such as ALP, BSP, OCN, OPN, and COLI . This provided evidence has been prove the clinical effect of natural product in the treatment of bone diseases, such as osteoporosis.…”

Mercury Toxicity and Neurogenesis in the Mammalian Brain

“…A third study examined the therapeutic effects of an extract of Lycium bararum polysaccharides (LBPs) on methylmercury-induced damage in hippocampus NSCs [ 97 ]. LBPs appear to interact with numerous targets and have multiple pharmacological effects, including protection of the nervous system and repair of damaged neurons [ 98 , 99 ].…”

“…LBPs appear to interact with numerous targets and have multiple pharmacological effects, including protection of the nervous system and repair of damaged neurons [ 98 , 99 ]. Administration of LBPs to NSCs exposed to methylmercury ameliorated the adverse effects of methylmercury on the development of exposed NSCs [ 97 ]. Specifically, LBP administration reduced the rate of abnormal differentiation and alleviated damage to NSCs caused by MeHg.…”