Xiangyi Zhan, Xiaoyong Chen, Mei Feng, Kuo Yao, Kefan Yang, Hui Jia
{"title":"Daurisoline Inhibits Progression of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer by Regulating the γ-Secretase/Notch Axis.","authors":"Xiangyi Zhan, Xiaoyong Chen, Mei Feng, Kuo Yao, Kefan Yang, Hui Jia","doi":"10.4062/biomolther.2024.131","DOIUrl":"10.4062/biomolther.2024.131","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype of breast cancer that is challenging to treat and lacks targeted therapeutic drugs in the clinic. Natural active ingredients provide promising opportunities for discovering and developing targeted therapies for TNBC. This study investigated the effects of daurisoline on TNBC and elucidated its potential mechanisms. Using network pharmacology, a correlation was identified between daurisoline, derived from <i>Menispermum dauricum</i>, and breast cancer, particularly involving the Notch signaling pathway. The effects of daurisoline on the proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cells were evaluated <i>in vitro</i>. Additionally, the impact of daurisoline on the growth of MDA-MB-231 xenograft tumors in nude mice was assessed through <i>in vivo</i> experiments. Expression levels of Notch signaling pathway-related proteins, including Notch-1, NICD, PSEN-1, Bax, and Bcl-2, were examined using molecular docking and Western blotting to explore the underlying mechanisms of daurisoline's anti-breast cancer effects. It was revealed that daurisoline could effectively inhibit the proliferation and migration of MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cells and promote apoptosis. Furthermore, it significantly reduced the growth of subcutaneous tumors in nude mice. Notably, daurisoline could reduce the hydrolytic activity of γ-secretase by binding to the catalytic core PSEN-1, thereby inhibiting activation of the γ-secretase/Notch axis and contributing to its anti-TNBC effects. This study supported the development of naturally targeted drugs for TNBC and provided insights into the research on dibenzylisoquinoline alkaloids, such as daurisoline.</p>","PeriodicalId":8949,"journal":{"name":"Biomolecules & Therapeutics","volume":" ","pages":"331-343"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11893495/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143397973","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hae Ran Lee, Seong-Min Hong, Kyohee Cho, Seon Hyeok Kim, Eunji Ko, Eunyoo Lee, Hyun Jin Kim, Se Yeong Jeon, Seon Gil Do, Sun Yeou Kim
{"title":"Erratum to \"Potential Role of Dietary Salmon Nasal Cartilage Proteoglycan on UVB-Induced Photoaged Skin\" [Biomol Ther 32(2), 249-260 (2024)].","authors":"Hae Ran Lee, Seong-Min Hong, Kyohee Cho, Seon Hyeok Kim, Eunji Ko, Eunyoo Lee, Hyun Jin Kim, Se Yeong Jeon, Seon Gil Do, Sun Yeou Kim","doi":"10.4062/biomolther.2025.001","DOIUrl":"10.4062/biomolther.2025.001","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8949,"journal":{"name":"Biomolecules & Therapeutics","volume":"33 2","pages":"415"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11893496/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143522542","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mengjie Xu, Wei He, Ke Yan, Xinru Gao, Jun Li, Dongyue Xu, Jiao Xiao, Tingxu Yan
{"title":"Isorhamnetin Alleviates Inflammation-Induced Crosstalk between Kynurenine Pathway and Gut Microbiota in Depressed Mice.","authors":"Mengjie Xu, Wei He, Ke Yan, Xinru Gao, Jun Li, Dongyue Xu, Jiao Xiao, Tingxu Yan","doi":"10.4062/biomolther.2024.061","DOIUrl":"10.4062/biomolther.2024.061","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Depression is a widespread psychiatric disorder with complex pathogenesis and unsatisfactory therapeutic effects. As a native flavonoid, Isorhamnetin (ISO) has been deemed to exert neuroprotective effects by antioxidation and regulation of immunity. However, no reports of anti-depressed effect of ISO have yet been found. The present study was conducted to clarify the mechanism basis of anti-depressed effect of ISO utilizing behavioral, biochemical, molecular approaches <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> and bio-informatics analysis. The effects of ISO on depressed mice was investigated through the SPT and FST, and the lesions were examined by H&E staining. Besides, the inflammatory factor and indicator in kynurenine pathway were assessed through detection kits, and the microbiota were checked by 16sRNA. Molecular docking study was performed to investigate the target of ISO. Additionally, Western blot was used to test the activation of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. The results indicated that ISO could enhance the sugar water preference of mice in SPT and reduce immobility time in FST. Further more, ISO suppressed peripheral and central inflammation, regulated the changes in kynurenine pathway and gut microbiota, inhibited activation of PI3K/AKT pathway, and presented good binding patterns with target proteins on PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that ISO alleviated depression-like behaviour by normalizing inflammation-induced dysregulation of the crosstalk between KP and gut microbiota disorder through regulated PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway.</p>","PeriodicalId":8949,"journal":{"name":"Biomolecules & Therapeutics","volume":" ","pages":"297-310"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11893487/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143397979","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Le Ba Vinh, Kyeong Seon Lee, Yoo Kyong Han, Young Jun Kim, Suzy Kim, Abdul Bari Shah, Youngjoo Byun, Ki Yong Lee
{"title":"Allergy Inhibition Using Naturally Occurring Compounds Targeting Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin Pathways: a Comprehensive Review.","authors":"Le Ba Vinh, Kyeong Seon Lee, Yoo Kyong Han, Young Jun Kim, Suzy Kim, Abdul Bari Shah, Youngjoo Byun, Ki Yong Lee","doi":"10.4062/biomolther.2024.177","DOIUrl":"10.4062/biomolther.2024.177","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Naturally occurring compounds have widely been applied to treat diverse pharmacological effects, including asthma, allergic diseases, antioxidants, inflammation, antibiotics, and cancer. Recent research has revealed the essential role of the thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) in regulating inflammatory responses at mucosal barriers and maintaining immune homeostasis. Asthma, inflammation, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are allergic disorders in which TSLP plays a significant role. Although TSLP's role in type 2 immune responses has undergone comprehensive investigation, its involvement in inflammatory diseases and cancer has also been found to be expanding. However, investigating how to block the TSLP pathway using natural products has been limited. This paper summarizes the roles of various medicinal plants and their chemical components that effectively inhibit the TSLP pathway. In addition, we also highlight the contributions of several plant-derived compounds to treat allergic diseases via targeting TSLP. This review intends to offer innovative concepts to scientists investigating the use of naturally produced compounds and extracts for the treatment of allergic illnesses.</p>","PeriodicalId":8949,"journal":{"name":"Biomolecules & Therapeutics","volume":" ","pages":"249-267"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11893497/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143397877","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jae-Hyoung Song, Seo-Hyeon Mun, Sunil Mishra, Seong-Ryeol Kim, Heejung Yang, Sun Shim Choi, Min-Jung Kim, Dong-Yeop Kim, Sungchan Cho, Youngwook Ham, Hwa-Jung Choi, Won-Jin Baek, Yong Soo Kwon, Jae-Hoon Chang, Hyun-Jeong Ko
{"title":"Quercetin-3-Methyl Ether Induces Early Apoptosis to Overcome HRV1B Immune Evasion, Suppress Viral Replication, and Mitigate Inflammatory Pathogenesis.","authors":"Jae-Hyoung Song, Seo-Hyeon Mun, Sunil Mishra, Seong-Ryeol Kim, Heejung Yang, Sun Shim Choi, Min-Jung Kim, Dong-Yeop Kim, Sungchan Cho, Youngwook Ham, Hwa-Jung Choi, Won-Jin Baek, Yong Soo Kwon, Jae-Hoon Chang, Hyun-Jeong Ko","doi":"10.4062/biomolther.2024.204","DOIUrl":"10.4062/biomolther.2024.204","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Human rhinovirus (HRV) causes the common cold and exacerbates chronic respiratory diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Despite its significant impact on public health, there are currently no approved vaccines or antiviral treatments for HRV infection. Apoptosis is the process through which cells eliminate themselves through the systematic activation of intrinsic death pathways in response to various stimuli. It plays an important role in viral infections and serves as a key immune defense mechanism in the interactions between viruses and the host. In the present study, we investigated the antiviral effects of quercetin-3-methyl ether, a flavonoid isolated from <i>Serratula coronata</i>, on human rhinovirus 1B (HRV1B). Quercetin-3-methyl ether significantly inhibited HRV1B replication in HeLa cells in a concentration-dependent manner, thereby reducing cytopathic effects and viral RNA levels. Time-course and time-of-addition analyses confirmed that quercetin-3-methyl ether exhibited antiviral activity during the early stages of viral infection, potentially targeting the replication and translation phases. Gene expression analysis using microarrays revealed that pro-apoptotic genes were upregulated in quercetin-3-methyl ether-treated cells, suggesting that quercetin-3-methyl ether enhances early apoptosis to counteract HRV1B-induced immune evasion. <i>In vivo</i> administration of quercetin-3-methyl ether to HRV1B-infected mice significantly reduced viral RNA levels and inflammatory cytokine production in the lung tissues. Our findings demonstrated the potential of quercetin-3-methyl ether as a novel antiviral agent against HRV1B, thereby providing a promising therapeutic strategy for the management of HRV1B infections and related complications.</p>","PeriodicalId":8949,"journal":{"name":"Biomolecules & Therapeutics","volume":" ","pages":"388-398"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11893485/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143466825","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Taeho Kong, Su Kyoung Seo, Yong-Seok Han, Woo Min Seo, Bokyong Kim, Jieun Kim, Young-Jae Cho, Seunghee Lee, Kyung-Sun Kang
{"title":"Primed Mesenchymal Stem Cells by IFN-γ and IL-1β Ameliorate Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome through Enhancing Homing Effect and Immunomodulation.","authors":"Taeho Kong, Su Kyoung Seo, Yong-Seok Han, Woo Min Seo, Bokyong Kim, Jieun Kim, Young-Jae Cho, Seunghee Lee, Kyung-Sun Kang","doi":"10.4062/biomolther.2025.004","DOIUrl":"10.4062/biomolther.2025.004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a severe condition characterized by extensive lung inflammation and increased alveolar-capillary permeability, often triggered by infections or systemic inflammatory responses. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)-based therapy holds promise for treating ARDS, as MSCs manifest immunomodulatory and regenerative properties that mitigate inflammation and enhance tissue repair. Primed MSCs, modified to augment specific functionalities, demonstrate superior therapeutic efficacy in targeted therapies compared to naive MSCs. This study explored the immunomodulatory potential of MSCs using mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) assays and co-culture experiments with M1/M2 macrophages. Additionally, RNA sequencing was employed to identify alterations in immune and inflammation-related factors in primed MSCs. The therapeutic effects of primed MSCs were assessed in an LPS-induced ARDS mouse model, and the underlying mechanisms were investigated through spatial transcriptomics analysis. The study revealed that MSCs primed with IFN-γ and IL-1β significantly enhanced the suppression of T cell activity compared to naive MSCs, concurrently inhibiting TNF-α while increasing IL-10 production in macrophages. Notably, combined treatment with these two cytokines resulted in a significant upregulation of immune and inflammation-regulating factors. Furthermore, our analyses elucidated the mechanisms behind the therapeutic effects of primed MSCs, including the inhibition of inflammatory cell infiltration in lung tissue, modulation of immune and inflammatory responses, and enhancement of elastin fiber formation. Signaling pathway analysis confirmed that efficacy could be enhanced by modulating NFκB and TNF-α signaling. In conclusion, in early-phase ARDS, primed MSCs displayed enhanced homing capabilities, improved lung function, and reduced inflammation.</p>","PeriodicalId":8949,"journal":{"name":"Biomolecules & Therapeutics","volume":" ","pages":"311-324"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11893491/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143456613","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Pro-Oxidative and Inflammatory Actions of Extracellular Hemoglobin and Heme: Molecular Events and Implications for Alzheimer's and Parkinson Disease.","authors":"Nicole Bon Campomayor, Hee Jin Kim, Mikyung Kim","doi":"10.4062/biomolther.2024.224","DOIUrl":"10.4062/biomolther.2024.224","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hemoglobin (Hb) and heme, which are typically confined within red blood cells (RBCs), are essential for intravascular transport of gases and nutrients. However, these molecules acquire secondary functions upon exposure to the extracellular environment. Hb and heme generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are potent pro-inflammatory agents that contribute to oxidative stress and cellular damage. These events are relevant to neurodegenerative processes, where oxidative stress, irregular deposition of protein aggregates, and chronic inflammation are key pathological features. Extracellular Hb, heme, and oxidative stress derived from hemorrhagic events or RBC lysis may contribute to increased blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability. These events allow Hb and heme to interact with neuroimmune cells and pathological protein aggregates, further amplifying pro-inflammatory signaling and the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson disease (PD). Chronic neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction lead to neuronal degeneration. Here, we sought to elucidate the pro-oxidative and inflammatory actions of extracellular Hb and heme, emphasizing their potential impact on AD and PD development.</p>","PeriodicalId":8949,"journal":{"name":"Biomolecules & Therapeutics","volume":" ","pages":"235-248"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11893490/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143439303","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Structure-Activity Relationship of NMDA Receptor Ligands and Their Activities on the ERK Activation through Metabotropic Signaling Pathway.","authors":"Dooti Kundu, Mengling Wang, Suresh Paudel, Shujie Wang, Choon-Gon Jang, Kyeong-Man Kim","doi":"10.4062/biomolther.2024.216","DOIUrl":"10.4062/biomolther.2024.216","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDA-R) subunit GluN2B is abundantly expressed in brain regions critical for synaptic plasticity and cognitive processes. This study investigated the structure-activity relationships (SAR) of NMDA-R ligands using GluN2B as a molecular target. Thirty potential NMDA-R antagonists were categorized into two structural classes: 1-(1-phenylcyclohexyl) amines (series A) and α-amino-2-phenylcyclohexanone derivatives (series B). In series A compounds, the phenyl ring and R1 substituents were positioned at the carbon center of the cyclohexyl ring, with R2 substituents at the para- or meta-positions of the phenyl ring. SAR analysis revealed optimal binding affinity when R1 was carbonyl (C=O) and R2 was 4-methoxy (4-OMe). Series B compounds featured a cyclohexanone scaffold with NH-R1 at the α-position and a phenyl ring bearing R2 substituents at ortho-, meta-, or para-positions. Maximum binding affinity was achieved with R1 as hydrogen (H) and R2 as hydroxyl (OH). Compounds were assessed for GluN2B-mediated ERK activation to evaluate potential metabotropic signaling properties. Approximately 50% of the compounds demonstrated ERK activation through a non-ionotropic signaling cascade involving Src, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, and protein kinase C. This study elucidated key structural determinants for NMDA-R binding and characterized a novel metabotropic signaling pathway. Notably, our findings suggest that compounds acting as antagonists at the ionotropic site may simultaneously function as agonists through non-ionotropic mechanisms.</p>","PeriodicalId":8949,"journal":{"name":"Biomolecules & Therapeutics","volume":" ","pages":"278-285"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11893489/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143397999","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jee-Yeon Seo, Jisoo Kim, Yong-Hyun Ko, Bo-Ram Lee, Kwang-Hyun Hur, Young Hoon Jung, Hyun-Ju Park, Seok-Yong Lee, Choon-Gon Jang
{"title":"A Novel Histone Deacetylase 6 Inhibitor, 4-FHA, Improves Scopolamine-Induced Cognitive and Memory Impairment in Mice.","authors":"Jee-Yeon Seo, Jisoo Kim, Yong-Hyun Ko, Bo-Ram Lee, Kwang-Hyun Hur, Young Hoon Jung, Hyun-Ju Park, Seok-Yong Lee, Choon-Gon Jang","doi":"10.4062/biomolther.2024.110","DOIUrl":"10.4062/biomolther.2024.110","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Although histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) is considered a therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease (AD), its role in cholinergic dysfunction in AD patients remains unclear. This study investigated the effects of (<i>E</i>)-3-(2-(4-fluorostyryl)thiazol-4-yl)-<i>N</i>-hydroxypropanamide (4-FHA), a new synthetic HDAC6 inhibitor, on cognitive and memory impairments in a scopolamine-induced-AD mouse model. Behaviorally, 4-FHA improved scopolamine-induced memory impairments in the Y-maze, passive avoidance, and Morris water maze tests. In addition, 4-FHA ameliorated scopolamine-induced cognitive impairments in the novel object recognition and place recognition tests. Furthermore, 4-FHA increased acetylation of α-tubulin (a major HDAC6 substrate); the expression of BDNF; and the phosphorylation of ERK 1/2, CREB, and ChAT in the hippocampus of scopolamine-treated mice. In summary, according to our data 4-FHA, an HDAC6 inhibitor, improved the cognitive and memory deficits of the AD mouse model by normalizing BDNF signaling and synaptic transmission, suggesting that 4-FHA might be a potential therapeutic candidate for AD.</p>","PeriodicalId":8949,"journal":{"name":"Biomolecules & Therapeutics","volume":" ","pages":"268-277"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11893501/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143397839","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Neuroprotective Effect of β-Lapachone against Glutamate-Induced Injury in HT22 Cells.","authors":"Hae Rim Lee, Hye Jin Jee, Yi-Sook Jung","doi":"10.4062/biomolther.2024.241","DOIUrl":"10.4062/biomolther.2024.241","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>While glutamate, a key neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, is fundamental to neuronal viability and normal brain function, its excessive accumulation leads to oxidative stress, contributing to neuronal damage and neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we investigated the effect of β-lapachone (β-Lap), a naturally occurring naphthoquinone, on glutamate-induced injury in HT22 cells and explored the underlying mechanism involved. Our results show that β-Lap significantly improved cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, β-Lap exhibited a significant antioxidant activity, reducing intracellular reactive oxygen species levels and restoring glutathione levels. The antioxidant capacity of β-Lap was further demonstrated through 2,2-Diphenyl- 1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) radical scavenging assays. Western blot analysis revealed that β-Lap upregulated brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and promoted the phosphorylation of tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and cAMP response elementbinding protein (CREB), which were downregulated by glutamate. Furthermore, β-Lap enhanced the cellular antioxidant molecules, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). In conclusion, β-Lap can protect HT22 cells against glutamate-induced injury by activating the BDNF/TrkB/ERK/CREB and ERK/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathways, suggesting its therapeutic potential for neurodegenerative diseases.</p>","PeriodicalId":8949,"journal":{"name":"Biomolecules & Therapeutics","volume":" ","pages":"286-296"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11893500/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143397992","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}