Senkyunolide A protects neural cells against corticosterone-induced apoptosis by modulating protein phosphatase 2A and α-synuclein signaling

BACKGROUND: Depression is characterized by a pathological injury to the hippocampal neurons. Senkyunolide A (SenA) is one of the major active components of Dan-zhi-xiao-yao-san, which is widely used in the treatment of depression-related disorders. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present study, it was hypothesized that the antidepressant effect of Dan-zhi-xiao-yao-san depended on the function of SenA and the authors attempted to reveal the molecular mechanism associated with the treatment. An in vitro depression model was induced using corticosterone (Cort), and the effect of SenA on the cell viability, apoptosis, and protein phosphatase 2A/α-synuclein (PP2A/α-syn) signaling was detected. To validate the mechanism driving the therapeutic effect of SenA, activity of PP2A and α-syn was modulated and the effect on neural cells was evaluated. RESULTS: The results showed that SenA protects Cort-induced cell apoptosis in PC12 cells. In addition, SenA increased Cort-induced reduction of PP2A activity, while it decreased the expression of p-PP2A, α-syn, and p-α-syn (Ser129). Further, modulation of PP2A activity with specific inhibitor okadaic acid (OA) increased Cort-induced cell apoptosis, while PP2A activator D-erythro-sphingosine (SPH) exhibited an opposite effect. The neuroprotective effects of SenA on neural cells also depended on inhibition of α-syn function, the regulation of which would influence the activity of PP2A in a negative loop. CONCLUSION: Collectively, the results suggested that the neuroprotective effects of SenA were exerted by modulating activities of PP2A activities and α-syn. The findings partially explained the mechanism associated with the neuroprotective effect of SenA.