Protective effects of diarylpropionitrile against hydrogen peroxide-induced damage in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells

Oxidative stress is implicated in pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. The study demonstrates diarylpropionitrile (DPN), an antioxidant selective agonist of estrogen receptor β, protected human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells against H₂O₂-induced toxicity by attenuating production of reactive oxygen species, apoptosis, autophagy, NF-κB activation, MAPK p38, JNK and ERK 1/2 signaling pathways, and β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme level, but, interestingly, stimulating Akt pathway. These findings indicate the important potential of DPN to ameliorate oxidative stress-associated damage in neurodegenerative disorders.