Curcumin inhibits oxidative stress and autophagy in C17.2 neural stem cell through ERK1/2 signaling pathways

Objectives: This study investigates curcumin's neuroprotective role and its potential in promoting neurogenesis in progenitor cells within the brain. Notably, curcumin's antioxidant properties have been implicated in Alzheimer's disease treatment. However, the association between curcumin's antioxidative effects and its impact on neural stem cells (NSCs) remains to be elucidated.

Methods: C17.2 neural stem cells were utilized as a model to simulate oxidative stress, induced by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). We quantified the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), alongside the gene expression of SOD1 and SOD2, to assess intracellular oxidative stress. Additionally, Western blot analysis was conducted to measure the expressions of LC3-II, Beclin-1, and phosphorylated ERK (p-ERK), thereby evaluating autophagy and ERK signaling pathway activation.

Results: Treatment with curcumin resulted in a reduction of MDA and ROS levels, suggesting a protective effect on NSCs against oxidative damage induced by H₂O₂. Furthermore, a decrease in the relative expressions of LC3-II, Beclin-1, and p-ERK was observed post-curcumin treatment.

Conclusions: The findings suggest that curcumin may confer protection against oxidative stress by attenuating autophagy and deactivating the ERK1/2 signaling pathways, which could contribute to therapeutic strategies for Alzheimer's disease.