Conclusions
Date showed that osthole may be useful in the treatment of epilepsy and other neurodegenerative diseases that are characterized by over expression of PI3K/Akt/mTOR.
Methods
Optimal culture concentration and time of osthole were investigated by MTT assay. The concentration of osthole was tested from 10 to 400 μM and the culture time was tested from 2 to 72 h. Ultrastructure difference among control, KA and osthole group was analyzed under transmission electron microscope. The mRNA expression of PI3K/AKt/mTOR was investigated using reverse transcription (RT)-PCR and the protein expression was investigated using western blotting and immunofluorescence assay. Apoptosis rate of BV-2 cells between each group was measured by flow cytometry.
Objective
To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the effect of osthole on PI3K/AKt/mTOR expression in kainic acid (KA)-activated BV-2 microglia cells. Materials and
Results
IC50 for cell viability of BV-2 cells by osthole was 157.7 µM. Treated with osthole (140 µM) for 24 h significantly increased the inhibition rate. Pretreatment with osthole inhibited the KA-induced PI3K/AKt/mTOR mRNA and protein expression. The results of flow cytometry analysis showed that the apoptotic rate of osthole group was obviously higher than KA group. Conclusions: Date showed that osthole may be useful in the treatment of epilepsy and other neurodegenerative diseases that are characterized by over expression of PI3K/Akt/mTOR.