Ganoderma extract activates MAP kinases and induces the neuronal differentiation of rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells

• Published in: FEBS letters Vol. 486; no. 3; pp. 291 - 296
• Main Authors: Cheung, William M.W., Hui, Wing S., Chu, Patrick W.K., Chiu, Siu W., Ip, Nancy Y.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier B.V 15.12.2000
• Subjects: Animals; Apoptosis; Apoptosis - drug effects; cAMP-response element binding protein; Cell Differentiation - drug effects; Cell Division - drug effects; Chinese medicine; Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein - metabolism; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drugs, Chinese Herbal - pharmacology; Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2; Ganoderma; In Situ Nick-End Labeling; MAP kinase; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 - metabolism; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases - metabolism; Nerve Growth Factor - pharmacology; Neurofilament Proteins - biosynthesis; Neuronal differentiation; Neurons - cytology; Neurons - drug effects; Neurons - enzymology; PC12 Cells; Pheochromocytoma - metabolism; Phosphorylation - drug effects; Rats; Receptor, trkA - metabolism; Reishi - chemistry; Signal Transduction; Chinese medicine; Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2; Neuronal differentiation; MAP kinase; Ganoderma; cAMP-response element binding protein; Apoptosis
• ISSN: 0014-5793; 1873-3468
• DOI: 10.1016/S0014-5793(00)02317-6

The pharmacology and clinical application of traditional Chinese medicine has been extensively documented. We have used an in vitro model system, PC12 cells, to demonstrate the presence of neuroactive compounds in Ganoderma lucidum (lingzhi). Ganoderma extract induced the neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells and prevented nerve growth factor-dependent PC12 neurons from apoptosis. Moreover, these effects of ganoderma might be mediated via the ras/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) and cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) signaling pathways, as demonstrated by the phosphorylation of Erk1, Erk2 and CREB. Thus, our data not only present the first evidence of the presence of neuroactive compounds that mediate the neuronal differentiation and neuroprotection of the PC12 cells, but also reveal the potential signaling molecules involved in its action.