CONSTRUCTION OF BAXα HIGH EXPRESSING PC-12 CELL LINE AND THE MECHANISMS OF (-)CLAUSENAMIDE IN INHIBITING APOPTOSIS

AIM　PC12 cells with high expression of Baxα were used to study the antiapoptotic effects of (-)clausenamide.METHODS　The Baxα cDNA was first subcloned from pBluescript SK to eukaryotic vector pcDNA3. The pcDNA3-Baxα was transformed into PC12 cells. PC12 cells with high expression of Baxα were subjected to neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine 100 μmol.L^-1 to induce apoptosis.RESULTS　The Baxα expressing PC-12 cells has a higher apoptosis percentage compared with the vector transfected controls(49.96% vs 32.9%). (-)Clausenamide(0.1～10 μmol*L^-1) was shown to significantly decrease the apoptotic cells measured by flowcytometry method. (-)Clausenamide(0.1～1.0 μmol.L^-1) also improved the compromised mitochondrial membrane potential. CONCLUSION　These findings suggest that (-)clausenamide may save the cells from apoptosis and provide a clue to the therapy of neurodegenerative diseases.