Yunhui Cai

Prof. Yunhui Cai

Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Guangdong, China

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

5Years (2022-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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12 September 2022 in Antioxidants
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
YCYunhui Cai
Yunhui Cai
RXRan Xiao
Ran Xiao
YZYadan Zhang
Yadan Zhang
DXDiya Xu
Diya Xu
NWNi Wang
Ni Wang
ZWZhou Wenhua
Zhou Wenhua
Oxidative stress in the brain is highly related to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). It could be induced by the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), produced by the amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide and excess copper (Cu) in senile plaques and cellular species, such as ascorbic acid (AA) and O2. In this study, the protective effect of 5-hydroxy-7-(4′-hydroxy-3′-methoxyphenyl)-1-phenyl-3-heptanone (DHPA) on Aβ(1–42)/Cu2+/AA mixture-treated SH-SY5Y cells was investigated via in vitro and in silico studies. The results showed that DHPA could inhibit Aβ/Cu2+/AA-induced SH-SY5Y apoptosis, OH· production, intracellular ROS accumulation, and malondialdehyde (MDA) production. Further research demonstrated that DHPA could decrease the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 and repress the increase of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) of SH-SY5Y cells, to further suppress the activation of caspase-3, and inhibit cell apoptosis. Meanwhile, DHPA could inhibit the Aβ/Cu2+/AA-induced phosphorylation of Erk1/2 and P38 in SH-SY5Y cells, and increase the expression of P-AKT. Furthermore, DHPA could bind to Keap1 to promote the separation of Nrf2 to Keap1 and activate the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway to increase the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO1), glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Thus, our results demonstrated that DHPA could inhibit Aβ/Cu2+/AA-induced SH-SY5Y apoptosis via scavenging OH·, inhibit mitochondria apoptosis, and activate the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.