Icariin Prevents IL‐1β‐Induced Apoptosis in Human Nucleus Pulposus via the PI3K/AKT Pathway

Abstract

Purpose To explore the effect and possible mechanism of icariin, a prenylated flavonol glycoside derived from the Chinese herb Epimedium sagittatum that was applied to IL-1β pretreated human nucleus pulposus (NP) cells. Methods Human NP cells were isolated from intervertebral discs of patients with scoliosis and lumbar spondylolisthesis. The cells were divided into five groups: A (blank control); B (20 ng/ml IL-1β); C (20 ng/ml IL-1β + 20 μM icariin); D (20 μM icariin + 20 ng/ml IL-1β + 25 μM LY294002); E (20 ng/ml IL-1β + 25 μM LY294002). For each of the five groups, the CCK8, apoptosis rates, ROS rates, and JC-1 rates were determined and an electron micrograph was performed. Different expression levels of apoptosis proteins and proteins in the PI3K/AKT pathway were detected via western blot. Results We found that the damage effects on human nucleus pulposus cells from 20 ng/ml of IL-1β exposure were attenuated by icariin. When the PI3K/AKT pathway was blocked by LY294002, a specific inhibitor of this pathway, the protective effect of icariin was impaired. In summary, icariin might be a protective traditional Chinese medicine, which prevents inflammation-induced degeneration of intervertebral discs partly through the PI3K/AKT pathway.

Platycodin D protects acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity by inhibiting hepatocyte MAPK pathway and apoptosis in C57BL/6J mice

“…Many studies have shown that the pathological process of cisplatin-induced renal cell apoptosis is related to the release of many inflammatory mediators such as TNF-α and IL-1β [36,37]. A study by Deng et al has demonstrated that icariin has a significant anti-inflammatory effect [20]. Therefore, we hypothesized that icariin might exert anti-inflammatory effects on cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity.…”

“…3A, cisplatin exposure for 24 h reduced HEK-293 cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. Compared with normal control group, the experimental groups (5,10,20,40, and 80 μM of cisplatin) exerts significantly statistical differences on cell viability (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01 or p < 0.001). According to the results, 20 μM (p < 0.01) was chosen for the subsequent experiments.…”

“…Icariin has been shown to have a wide range of pharmacological and biological activities, including anti-neuronal injury [16], promotion of synaptic growth and osteogenesis [17], anti-inflammation, anti-tumor [18], and anti-depression effects [19]. In addition, a report by Deng et al indicated that icariin had a protective effect on IL-1β-induced human nucleus pulposus cells, and the PI3K/Akt pathway was involved in this effect [20].…”

Puerarin Relieved Compression-Induced Apoptosis and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Human Nucleus Pulposus Mesenchymal Stem Cells via the PI3K/Akt Pathway

“…PUR could attenuate hippocampal neuronal injury through the PI3K/Akt1/GSK-3β signaling pathway [29]. In our previous studies, the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway was found to be significantly activated in the protective effect of icariin on human NPCs [30] in unfavorable inflammatory microenvironment. Since PUR can protect the neurocyte also through the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, it assumes that this mechanism may be adapted to the effects of PUR on NPMSCs.…”

“…PUR could efficaciously restore compressioninduced decrease of PI3K and p-Akt levels in the cytoplasm, while LY294002 administration abrogated this effect radically (Figures 2(b) and 2(c)). Besides, PUR at 200 μM and LY294002 at 25 μM [30] had no effects on cell death and apoptosis, if PUR and LY294002 were pretreated alone without compression ( Supplementary Figure 4 and Supplementary Figure 8).…”