Concurrent Treatment with Taxifolin and Cilostazol on the Lowering of β-Amyloid Accumulation and Neurotoxicity via the Suppression of P-JAK2/P-STAT3/NF-κB/BACE1 Signaling Pathways

PLoS One. 2016 Dec 15;11(12):e0168286. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0168286. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

Taxifolin is a potent flavonoid that exerts anti-oxidative effect, and cilostazol increases intracellular cAMP levels by inhibiting phosphodiesterase 3 that shows antiinflammatory actions. BACE1 (β-site APP cleaving enzyme 1) is the rate-limiting enzyme responsible for the β-cleavage of amyloid precursor proteins to Aβ peptides. In this study, endogenous Aβ and C99 accumulation was explored in N2a Swe cells exposed to 1% FBS medium. Increased Aβ and C99 levels were significantly attenuated by taxifolin alone and in combination with cilostazol. Increased phosphorylated JAK2 at Tyr1007/1008 (P-JAK), phosphorylated STAT3 at Tyr 705 (P-STAT3) expressions and increased expressions of BACE1 mRNA and protein in the activated N2a Swe cells were significantly attenuated by taxifolin (10~50 μM), cilostazol (10~50 μM) alone and in combination at minimum concentrations. In these cells, decreased cytosol IκBα expression was elevated, and increased nuclear NF-κB p65 level and nuclear NF-κB p65 DNA binding activity were significantly reduced by taxifolin and cilostazol in a similar manner. Following STAT3 gene (~70% reduction) knockdown in N2a cells, Aβ-induced nuclear NF-κB and BACE1 expressions were not observed. Taxifolin, cilostazol, or resveratrol significantly stimulated SIRT1 protein expression. In SIRT1 gene-silenced (~50%) N2a cells, taxifolin, cilostazol, and resveratrol all failed to suppress Aβ1-42-stimulated P-STAT3 and BACE1 expression. Consequently, taxifolin and cilostazol were found to significantly decrease lipopolysaccharide (1-10 μg/ml)-induced iNOS and COX-2 expressions, and nitrite production in cultured BV-2 microglia cells and to increase N2a cell viability. In conclusion, taxifolin and cilostazol strongly inhibited amyloidogenesis in a synergistic manner by suppressing P-JAK2/P-STAT3-coupled NF-κB-linked BACE1 expression via the up-regulation of SIRT1.

MeSH terms

  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / metabolism
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / metabolism*
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / toxicity*
  • Animals
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cilostazol
  • Down-Regulation / drug effects
  • Drug Synergism
  • Janus Kinase 2 / metabolism
  • Mice
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Neuroprotection / drug effects*
  • Neuroprotective Agents / pharmacology*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Quercetin / analogs & derivatives*
  • Quercetin / pharmacology
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Tetrazoles / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • NF-kappa B
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor
  • Tetrazoles
  • Quercetin
  • taxifolin
  • JAK2 protein, human
  • Janus Kinase 2
  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases
  • BACE1 protein, human
  • Cilostazol

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (MSIP) (NRF-2016R1A2B2011509 and NRF-2016R1C1B2007691).