Artemether Activation of AMPK/GSK3β(ser9)/Nrf2 Signaling Confers Neuroprotection towards β-Amyloid-Induced Neurotoxicity in 3xTg Alzheimer’s Mouse Model

Figure 3

Artemether reduced intracellular ROS, reduced the decline in mitochondrial membrane potential, and increased Nrf-2 protein expression in Aβ_1-42-treated PC12 cells. (a) PC12 cells pretreated for 2 h with different concentrations of Artemether followed by exposure for 24 h with 1 μM Aβ_1-42. The fluorescent images represent the intracellular ROS level as determined by the CellROXs Deep Red Reagent and by staining the cells with JC-1 dyes. Fluorescence intensity of images depicts the change of mitochondrial membrane potential (△ψm). (b) Quantitation of the percentage of the intracellular ROS level. Results are presented as (). ^# versus the Aβ_1-42-treated group and versus the control group were considered significantly different. (c) Red to green fluorescence intensity ratio (increase of mitochondrial membrane potential). Three independent experiments were included. ^# and ^### versus the Aβ_1-42-treated group and versus the control group were considered significantly different. (d) PC12 cells pretreated for 2 h with different concentrations of Artemether were incubated with 1 μM Aβ_1-42, followed by measurements of (d, e) cleaved caspase 3 and (f) Nrf2 expression levels, determined by western blotting followed by quantitation of protein bands relative to GAPDH. Three independent experiments were included. , , and were considered significantly different.

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