Icaritin protects SH-SY5Y cells transfected with TDP-43 by alleviating mitochondrial damage and oxidative stress

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of icaritin (ICT) on TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43)-induced neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cell damage and to further explore its underlying mechanisms. METHODS: To investigate the possible mechanism, TDP-43 was used to induce SH-SY5Y cell injury. Cell viability was evaluated by the CCK-8 assay. The mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was determined with JC-1. The expression levels of TDP-43 and cytochrome C (CytC) were measuring by Western blotting. Changes in adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) content, total antioxidative capacity (T-AOC), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were detected with specific kits. RESULTS: The results showed that ICT reduced the cell damage induced by TDP-43. ICT reduced the expression level of TDP-43; increased ATP content and the MMP; decreased CytC expression; increased T-AOC and GSH-Px, total SOD (T-SOD), copper/zinc SOD (CuZn-SOD), and manganese SOD (Mn-SOD) activity; and decreased MDA content. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that ICT has a protective effect on TDP-43-transfected SH-SY5Y cells that is related to reductions in TDP-43 expression and mitochondrial damage and alleviation of oxidative stress.