Cycloastragenol inhibits Aβ_1–42-induced blood-brain barrier disruption and enhances soluble Aβ efflux in vitro

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effect Cycloastragenol (CAG), a triterpenoid saponin isolated from the Radix astragali, on Aβ-induced BBB damage. An immortalized endothelial cell line (bEnd.3) was employed to mimic a BBB. The Western blot, TUNEL staining, Flow cytometric analysis and Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were performed. The present results showed that CAG (10, 50, 75 μM) can alleviate oligomer Aβ_1–42 induced bEnd.3 cell apoptosis and increase tight junction scaffold proteins expression. The result also indicated that CAG increased soluble Aβ efflux across BBB via upregulation of the P-gp and downregulation of RAGE expression.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Alzheimer's disease
• amyloid‐β_1–42
• blood–brain barrier
• cycloastragenol

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This research was financially supported by grants from National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81573771); Jiangsu Natural Science Foundation, China (No. BK20191506).