Curcumin attenuates glutamate-induced oxidative injury in PC12 cells

Objective To investigate the curcumin (Cur)-induced protective effect on PC12 cells exposed to glutamate (Glu). Methods PC12 cells were exposed to the medium containing high-level glutamate to mimic oxidative injury of neuronal cells. The PC12 cells were divided into control group (cells cultured in normal medium), Glu treatment group (cells cultured in the medium containing 15 mmol/L glutamate), Cur+ Glu treatment group (cells cultured in the medium containing 10 μmol/L curcumin plus 15 mol/L glutamate) and Cur treatment group (cells cultured in the medium containing 10 μmol/L curcumin alone). After 24 h incubation, MTT method was used to assess the cell viability; specific reagent kit was taken to evaluate the lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) release and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level; phase contrast microscope was taken to record the cell morphology; and Western blotting was used to determine the expressions of apoptosis-associated proteins (Bax and Bcl-2). Results As compared with the control group, the Glu treatment group had decreased cell viability, increased LDH release, injured cell morphology, enhanced intracellular ROS level, up-regulated Bax expression and down-regulated Bcl-2 expression, with significant differences (P 0.05). Conclusion Cur attenuates the glutamate-induced oxidative injury in PC12 cells. Key words: Curcumin; PC12 cell; Glutamate; Oxidative stress; Neuroprotection