Abstract:

Objective To explore the effects of icariin, an effective component of Epimedium, on the over-expression and aggregation of α-synuclein(α-Syn) and other protein in vitro and mechanisms of the effects.
Methods Different concentrations of icariin were incubated with α-Syn gene-transfected PC12 cells for 24 h. The change in α-Syn mRNA content in the cells was determined by RT-PCR. The protein expression of α-Syn, UCH-L1 and Parkin was measured by Western blotting.
Results Incubation of icariin(40~80 μmol/L) with α-Syn gene-transfected PC12 cells for 24 h significantly decreased α-Syn mRNA content, inhibited α-Syn protein expression and aggregation, and enhanced the protein expression of UCH-L1 and Parkin in the model cells.
Conclusion Icariin inhibited the over-expression and aggregation of α-Syn in gene-tranfected PC12 cells in vitro, and the mechanisms may be related to the inhibition of synthesis and the enhancement of degradation of α-synuclein.

Key words: icariin, epimedium, &alpha, -Synuclein, ubiquitin-proteasome system, PC12 cell, in vitro