Neuroprotective Effects of Estradiol plus Lithium Chloride via Anti-Apoptosis and Neurogenesis Pathway in In Vitro and In Vivo Parkinson's Disease Models

Yung-Shih Lee; Chien-Wei Feng; Mei-Yu Peng; Te-Fu Chan; Yu-Chieh Chen

doi:10.1155/2021/3064892

Neuroprotective Effects of Estradiol plus Lithium Chloride via Anti-Apoptosis and Neurogenesis Pathway in In Vitro and In Vivo Parkinson's Disease Models

Parkinsons Dis. 2021 Oct 22:2021:3064892. doi: 10.1155/2021/3064892. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Yung-Shih Lee^{1

2}, Chien-Wei Feng^{1

2}, Mei-Yu Peng¹, Te-Fu Chan^{1

2}, Yu-Chieh Chen^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung 807377, Taiwan.
² Center for Cancer Research, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807377, Taiwan.

Abstract

Few pharmaceutical agents for slowing Parkinson's disease (PD) progression existed, especially for perimenopause females. The current general medications are mostly hormone replacement therapy and may have some side effects. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a novel treatment for PD. This study examined the possibility of estradiol plus lithium chloride (LiCl), one of the metal halides used as an alternative to salt. We showed that the combination of LiCl and estradiol could enhance neurogenesis proteins GAP-43 and N-myc in the human neuronal-like cells. We also further confirmed the neurogenesis activity in zebrafish. LiCl and LiCl plus estradiol could enhance 6-OHDA-induced upregulation of TGase-2b and Rho A mRNA expression. Besides, LiCl plus estradiol showed a synergic effect in anti-apoptotic activity. LiCl plus estradiol protected SH-SY5Y cells and zebrafish against 6-OHDA-induced damage on neurons than LiCl or estradiol alone groups via p-P38, p-Akt, Bcl-2, and caspase-3 cascade. The potential for developing this combination as a candidate treatment for PD is discussed.