Neuroprotective effect of S-allyl-l-cysteine derivatives against endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced cytotoxicity is independent of calpain inhibition

J Pharmacol Sci. 2016 Mar;130(3):185-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jphs.2016.03.004. Epub 2016 Mar 14.

Abstract

S-allyl-l-cysteine (SAC) is known to have neuroprotective properties. We synthesized various SAC derivatives and tested their effects on endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced neurotoxicity in cultured hippocampal neurons (HPNs). Among the compounds tested, S-propyl-l-cysteine (SPC) exhibited the strongest neuroprotective activity in HPNs, followed by S-ethyl-l-cysteine (SEC) and S-methyl-l-cysteine (SMC). Unlike SAC and SMC, SPC and SEC did not have inhibitory activity on μ-calpain, suggesting that the mechanism underlying the protective activity of SPC and SEC differs from that of SAC.

Keywords: Endoplasmic reticulum stress; Hippocampal neuron; S-allyl-l-cysteine derivatives.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calpain / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cysteine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Cysteine / pharmacology
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress / drug effects*
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress / physiology
  • Hippocampus / cytology
  • Neurons / drug effects*
  • Neurons / pathology*
  • Neuroprotective Agents*
  • Rats, Wistar

Substances

  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • S-propylcysteine
  • S-allylcysteine
  • S-methylcysteine
  • S-ethylcysteine
  • Calpain
  • Cysteine