Genistein inhibits Aβ -induced SH-SY5Y cell damage by modulating the expression of apoptosis-related proteins and Ca influx through ionotropic glutamate receptors.

In this study, we investigated the protective effects of genistein against SH-SY5Y cell damage induced by β-amyloid 25-35 peptide (Aβ ) and the underlying mechanisms. Aβ-induced neuronal death, apoptosis, glutamate receptor subunit expression, Ca ion concentration, amino acid transmitter concentration, and apoptosis-related factor expression were evaluated to determine the effects of genistein on Aβ-induced neuronal death and apoptosis. The results showed that genistein increased the survival of SH-SY5Y cells and decreased the level of apoptosis induced by Aβ . In addition, genistein reversed the Aβ -induced changes in amino acid transmitters, α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate (AMPA) receptors, and N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunits in SH-SY5Y cells. Aβ -induced changes in Ca and B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2-associated X (Bax) protein and gene levels in cells were also reversed by genistein. Our data suggest that genistein protects against Aβ -induced damage in SH-SY5Y cells, possibly by regulating the expression of apoptosis-related proteins and Ca influx through ionotropic glutamate receptors.