Schisandrin A and B affect the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells

Schisandrin A and B (Sch A and B) are the important components of Asian dietary supplement and phytomedicine Schisandra chinensis (S. chinensis). They can enhance adult neumgenesis in vivo; however, these effects still need to be verified. Here NE-4 C neural stem cells (NSCs) were employed as the in vitro model and treated with Sch A and B at 0.1 mu g/mL. EdU (5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine) labeling showed that both Sch A and B treatments enhanced NSC proliferation. Real-time PCR analysis showed the mRNA abundances of telomerase gene Tert and cell cycle gene Cyclin D1 were significantly up-regulated after the treatments. During the neumsphere induction, Sch B enhanced the neumsphere formation and neuronal differentiation, and increased the neurosphere semi-diameters. Detection of the neuron differentiation marker Mapt indicates that both Sch A and B, especially Sch B, benefits the induced neuronal differentiation. Sch B treatment also enhanced mRNA expressions of the neumsphere-specific adhesion molecule Cdh2 and Wnt pathway-related genes including Mmp9, Cyclin D1 and beta-catenin. Together, Sch A especially Sch B, promotes the proliferation, affects the survival, differentiation and neumgenesis of NSCs, which is consistent with their in vivo effects. This study provides further clue on the potential neumpharmacological effects of S. chinensis.