Lcn2 (lipocalin 2) protects HT22 cells from hydrogen Peroxide-triggered oxidative stress

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) regulate diverse cellular signaling and metabolic processes, whereas dysregulated ROS accumulation induces oxidative stress (OS) that contributes to the pathogenesis of numerous neurological disorders. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying OS-induced neuronal cell injury remain incompletely understood.

Here, a hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-exposed HT22 mouse hippocampal neuronal cell model and an H₂O₂-exposed mouse astrocyte C8-D1A cell model were used to mimic in vitro OS. Methods, including transfection, RNA extraction, qRT-PCR, luciferase reporter assay, western blotting, cell counting kit-8, immunofluorescence staining, ROS measurement, and apoptosis assay, were used to investigate the role of Lcn2 in OS.

We found that, Lipocalin 2 (Lcn 2), an adipokine family protein, was significantly down-regulated upon H₂O₂ treatment. Lcn2 overexpression enhanced HT22 cell viability and effectively attenuated H₂O₂-induced ROS production, whereas Lcn2 silencing reduced viability and potentiated ROS accumulation. Mechanistically‌, Lcn2 protects neuronal cells by inactivating the Hippo signaling. Consistent results were obtained in mouse astrocyte C8-D1A cells.

Collectively, our findings indicate that dysregulated Lcn2 expression contributes to H₂O₂-induced neuronal OS, and suggest that Lcn2 may serve as a potential biomarker for predicting OS-related neurodegenerative disorders.