Equol protects PC12 neuronal cells against hypoxia/reoxygenation injury in vitro by reducing reactive oxygen species production

Objective Both of gp91 phox (an isoform of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-reduced oxidases) and Src (a non-receptor protein tyrosine kinase) play a prominent role in mediating hypoxia/reoxygenation injury of neurons. The present study was designed to investigate the neuroprotective effect of equol, a predominant active metabolite of daidzein, against hypoxia/reoxygenation injury in rat pheochromocytoma cell line (PC12) and explore the underlying mechanisms. Methods PC12 cells exposed to hypoxia/reoxygenation injury were examined for reactive oxygen species (ROS) using dihydroethidium and 2', 7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate and analyzed for changes in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA)content. The expression levels of gp91 phox and phosphorylated Src-Tyr416 (p-Src) were measured using Western blotting. Results Equol dose-dependently restored the cell viability and decreased LDH activity and MDA content in culture medium of PC12 cells exposed to hypoxia/reoxygenation. Pretreatment of the cells with 10 -5 and 10 -6 mol/L equol inhibited hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced increase of ROS. PC12 cells treated with equol prior to hypoxia/reoxygenation injury showed significant enhancement of the protein levels of gp91 phox and p-Src. Conclusion Equol confers neuroprotection against hypoxia/reoxygenation injury in PC12 cells by inhibiting the generation of ROS very likely as a result of down-regulation of gp91 phox and inhibition of Src phosphorylation.