Ganoderma extract activates MAP kinases and induces the neuronal differentiation of rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells

FEBS Letters

Ip, Nancy Y.¹  Cheung, William M.W.¹  Chiu, Siu W.²  Chu, Patrick W.K.¹  Hui, Wing S.¹ 

[1] Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology Research Institute, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, PR China;Department of Biology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, PR China

关键词: Ganoderma;    Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2;    cAMP-response element binding protein;    Apoptosis;    Neuronal differentiation;    MAP kinase;    Chinese medicine;   

DOI  :  10.1016/S0014-5793(00)02317-6

学科分类：生物化学/生物物理

来源: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

【 摘 要 】

The pharmacology and clinical application of traditional Chinese medicine has been extensively documented. We have used an in vitro model system, PC12 cells, to demonstrate the presence of neuroactive compounds in Ganoderma lucidum (lingzhi). Ganoderma extract induced the neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells and prevented nerve growth factor-dependent PC12 neurons from apoptosis. Moreover, these effects of ganoderma might be mediated via the ras/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) and cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) signaling pathways, as demonstrated by the phosphorylation of Erk1, Erk2 and CREB. Thus, our data not only present the first evidence of the presence of neuroactive compounds that mediate the neuronal differentiation and neuroprotection of the PC12 cells, but also reveal the potential signaling molecules involved in its action.

【 授权许可】

Unknown