文摘
A hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the aggressive appearance of plaques of amyloid beta (A¦Â) peptides, which result from the sequential cleavage of amyloid precursor protein (APP) by the ¦Â- and ¦Ã-secretases. A¦Â production is evaded by alternate cleavage of APP by the ¦Á- and ¦Ã-secretases. Carnosic acid (CA) has been proven to activate the transcription factor Nrf2, a main regulator of the antioxidant response. We investigated the effects of CA on the production of A¦Â 1-42 peptide (A¦Â42) and on the expressions of the related genes in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells. The treatment of cells with CA suppressed A¦Â42 secretion (61 % suppression at 30 ¦ÌM). CA treatment enhanced the mRNA expressions of an ¦Á-secretase TACE (tumor necrosis factor-¦Á-converting enzyme, also called a disintegrin and metalloproteinase-17, ADAM17) significantly and another ¦Á-secretase ADAM10 marginally; however, the ¦Â-secretase BACE1 (¦Â-site APP-cleaving enzyme-1) was not increased by CA. Knockdown of TACE by siRNA reduced soluble-APP¦Á secretion enhanced by CA and partially recovered the CA-suppressed A¦Â42 secretion. These results suggest that CA reduces A¦Â42 production by activating TACE without promoting BACE1 in human neuroblastoma cells. The use of CA may have a potential in the prevention of A¦Â-mediated diseases, particularly AD.