Neurotrophic property of geniposide for inducing the neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells

Abstract

Abstract The emerging data show that the insulinotrophic hormone glucagon‐like peptide‐1(GLP‐1) and its agonist extendin‐4 have neurotrophic function to inducing neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells and prevent neurons damage challenged by oxidative stress. Here, with the model of high throughput screen for GLP‐1 receptor agonists, we screen and identify that geniposide is a novel agonist for GLP‐1 receptor. Furthermore, geniposide induces the neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells with resulting neurites outgrowth; we also observe an increase in expression of growth‐associated protein‐43. U0126, a selective MEK inhibitor, prevents neurites out growth and phosphorylation of mitogen‐activated kinase proteins in PC12 cells induced by geniposide. All these results show that activation of GLP‐1 receptor by geniposide to induce the neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells involves in MAPK signaling cascade.