Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 26, 2026
Exploring the Two Herb Combination Strategy to Treat Injured PC12 Cells
Published on: November 18, 2022
Paeoniflorin alleviates spinal cord injury in a cell model via regulating PTEN and PI3K/AKT signaling
Hongxiang Hong1,2, Guanhua Xu1,2,3, Jiajia Chen1,2
1Spine Surgery Department, Nantong First People's Hospital, Southeast University, Nantong, 226001, China.
Abstract:
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a prevalent form of spinal cord dysfunction, and the discovery of new effective treatments remains a critical research focus. This study investigated the role of paeoniflorin in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced PC-12 cell model of SCI and examined the involvement of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) and the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) signaling pathway. Rat neuronal PC-12 cells were injured using LPS. Cell viability, proliferation, and apoptosis were assessed using the Cell Counting Kit-8, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU), and Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP Nick End Labeling (TUNEL) assays, respectively. Western blotting and quantitative polymerase chain reaction were used to analyze PI3K, AKT, and PTEN expressions. PTEN was overexpressed to determine its functional role. LPS significantly reduced cell viability and proliferation, while increasing apoptosis. Paeoniflorin treatment ameliorated these injury markers in a dose-dependent manner, downregulated PTEN expression, and enhanced phosphorylated PI3K and AKT levels. PTEN overexpression counteracted the protective effects of paeoniflorin and its activation of PI3K/AKT signaling. Paeoniflorin alleviates LPS-induced cell injury in PC-12 cell model by inhibiting PTEN expression and subsequently activating the PI3K/AKT pathway.
Insights
Paeoniflorin protects against spinal cord injury (SCI) in a cell model by inhibiting phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) and activating the PI3K/AKT pathway. This natural compound offers a potential therapeutic strategy for SCI.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a significant cause of neurological dysfunction, necessitating research into novel therapeutic agents.
- Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is frequently used to induce inflammatory responses mimicking SCI in cellular models.
- The phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN)/phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) pathway is crucial in cellular survival and proliferation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neuroprotective effects of paeoniflorin in an LPS-induced PC-12 cell model of SCI.
- To elucidate the role of PTEN and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in paeoniflorin's mechanism of action.
Main Methods:
- PC-12 cells were subjected to LPS-induced injury.
- Cell viability, proliferation, and apoptosis were assessed using CCK-8, EdU, and TUNEL assays.
- Protein and gene expression of PI3K, AKT, and PTEN were analyzed via Western blotting and qPCR; PTEN was overexpressed to confirm its role.
Main Results:
- LPS exposure reduced cell viability and proliferation while increasing apoptosis.
- Paeoniflorin treatment dose-dependently improved cell viability, proliferation, and reduced apoptosis.
- Paeoniflorin downregulated PTEN expression and increased phosphorylated PI3K and AKT levels; PTEN overexpression reversed these effects.
Conclusions:
- Paeoniflorin demonstrates significant neuroprotective effects in an LPS-induced SCI cell model.
- The mechanism involves the inhibition of PTEN expression, leading to the activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.
- Paeoniflorin represents a promising therapeutic candidate for managing spinal cord injury.
