Angelica sinensis polysaccharides mitigate cadmium-induced apoptosis in layer chicken chondrocytes by inhibiting the JNK signaling pathway

Int J Biol Macromol. 2024 Dec;282(Pt 5):137106. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.137106. Epub 2024 Oct 30.

Abstract

Cadmium (Cd), a toxic heavy metal pollutant, inflicts widespread damage on various organs and tissues, including cartilage, where it induces chondrocyte apoptosis. Angelica sinensis polysaccharides (ASP), a key active component of the traditional Chinese medicine Angelica sinensis, have been shown to possess anti-apoptotic effects on chondrocytes. This study investigates the in vitro effects of ASP on alleviating Cd-induced apoptosis in layer chicken chondrocytes, focusing on the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway mediated by the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway. Chondrocytes were isolated from layer chicken embryos and confirmed to express collagen type II alpha 1 (Col2a1). We found that Cd triggered apoptosis in the chondrocytes; however, the use of the JNK inhibitor SP 600125 mitigated mitochondrial structural damage casused by Cd, indicating the involvement of JNK signaling in this process. Furthermore, ASP effectively alleviated Cd-induced apoptosis in layer chicken chondrocytes by inhibiting JNK signaling in vitro. Our findings provide a theoretical foundation for the clinical application of ASP in preventing Cd-induced cartilage diseases in poultry.

Keywords: Angelica sinensis polysaccharide (ASP); Apoptosis; C-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK); Cadmium (Cd); Chondrocyte; Mitochondria.

MeSH terms

  • Angelica sinensis* / chemistry
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis* / drug effects
  • Cadmium* / toxicity
  • Chickens*
  • Chondrocytes* / drug effects
  • Chondrocytes* / metabolism
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System* / drug effects
  • Mitochondria / drug effects
  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • Polysaccharides* / chemistry
  • Polysaccharides* / pharmacology

Substances

  • Cadmium
  • Polysaccharides
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases