α-Lipoic acid alleviates ferroptosis in the MPP+-induced PC12 cells via activating the PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 pathway

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a typical neurodegenerative disease. alpha-Lipoic acid (alpha-LA) can reduce the incidence of neuropathy. The present study explored the role and mechanism of alpha-LA in 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+)-induced cell model of PD. The PD model was induced via treating PC12 cells with MPP+ at different concentrations. MPP+ and alpha-LA effects on PC12 cells were assessed from cell viability and ferroptosis. Cell viability was detected using the cell counting kit-8 assay. Malondialdehyde (MDA), 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), iron, reactive xygen species (ROS), and glutathione (GSH) concentrations, and ferroptosis-related protein SLC7A11 and GPx4 expressions were used for ferroptosis evaluation. p-PI3K, p-Akt, and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) protein levels were detected. The PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 pathway inhibitors were applied to verify the role of the PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 pathway in alpha-LA protection against MPP+-induced decreased cell viability and ferroptosis. MPP+-reduced cell viability and induced ferroptosis as presented by increased MDA, 4-HNE, iron, and ROS concentrations, and reduced levels of GSH and ferroptosis marker proteins (SLC7A11 and GPx4). alpha-LA attenuated MPP+-induced cell viability decline and ferroptosis. The PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 pathway was activated after alpha-LA treatment. Inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 pathway weakened the protection of alpha-LA against MPP+ treatment. We highlighted that alpha-LA alleviated MPP+-induced cell viability decrease and ferroptosis in PC12 cells via activating the PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 pathway.