Effects of serum containing natural cerebrolysin on glucose-regulated protein 78 and CCAAT enhancer-binding protein homologous protein expression in neuronal PC12 cells following tunicamycin-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress

BACKGROUND: Glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), a marker of endoplasmic reticulum stress, can prolong cell survival. Alternatively, CCAAT enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP), a transcription factor specific for endoplasmic reticulum stress, can cause cell cycle arrest and cell apoptosis. OBJECTIVE: To study the protective effects of serum containing natural cerebrolysin on endoplasmic reticulum stress in tunicamycin-induced neuronal PC12 cells, and analyze the influence on GRP78 and CHOP expressions. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: A parallel controlled study was performed at the Institute of Integrated Western and Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, between March 2006 and August 2008. MATERIALS: Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were perfused with natural Cerebrolysin aqueous extract (0.185 g/kg/d) to produce serum containing natural Cerebrolysin. Physiological saline was used to produce blank serum. PC12 cell line was provided by Shanghai Institute of Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Science. Tunicamycin was provided by Sigma (St. Louis, USA), and natural Cerebrolysin, containing ginseng, rhizoma gastrodiae, and gingko leaf (1:2:2), by Shengzhen Institute of Integrated Western and Traditional Chinese Medicine. METHODS: PC12 cells were treated with DMEM culture media containing 10% blank serum (normal control group), tunicamycin (1 mu g/ml; model group), and 5%, 10%, and 15% serum containing natural cerebrolysin and tunicamycin (1 mu 9/mL; low-, moderate-, and high-dose serum containing natural cerebrolysin groups), for 2 hours. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: PC12 cells were treated with tunicamycin for 48 hours after which apoptosis was measured using the TUNEL method to calculate apoptotic index. GRP78 expression was detected using immunocytochemistry. After 24 hours of treatment with tunicamycin, GRP78 and CHOP mRNA expressions were measured using RT-PCR. RESULTS: The apoptotic index and CHOP mRNA expression were in the model group and three cerebrolysin groups were significantly increased when compared to the normal control group (P < 0.05). In contrast, GRP78 mRNA and protein expressions were significantly decreased (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Serum containing natural cerebrolysin significantly reduced apoptosis in neuronal PC12 cells following tunicamycin-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress. These results may be related to an up-regulation of GRP78 expression and down-regulation of CHOP expression, both of which displayed dose-dependent effects.