Abstract: Objective To investigate whether acteoside (AS) protect PC12 cells against MPP+ -induced neurotoxicity through induction of HO-1 expression. Methods PC12 cells were stimulated with AS(1、20 and 30 μmol/L) for 12 h, RT-PCR was used to analyze HO-1 mRNA expression, and western blot and confocal microscopic analysis was applied to determine the expression of HO-1 protein. Cells were pre-incubated with vehicle or AS for 2h, followed by incubation with 1 mmol/L MPP+ for another 24 h，or cells were pretreated with Zinc Protoporphyrin (ZnPP) for 1 h in the absence or presence of AS and were exposed to MPP+ for 24 h，cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Results AS significantly reduced MPP+-induced the loss of cell viability. AS induced the expression of HO-1 in PC12 cells at mRNA and protein level. Acteoside-induced HO-1 which was predominantly localized to the cytoplasm. The HO-1 inhibitor ZnPP markedly abolished the neuroprotective effect of AS against MPP+-induced neurotoxicity. Conclusions Acteoside induce HO-1 expression, thereby attenuating MPP+-induced PC12 cell injury.

Key words: Acteoside, Heme oxygenase-1, MPP+, Neuroprotection