Effect of Celastrol on Heat Shock Protein Expression and Neuronal Cell Death in the Rodent Brain
Author | : Ramona Puikwung Cheung |
Publisher | : |
Total Pages | : 220 |
Release | : 2007 |
Genre | : |
ISBN | : 9780494401026 |
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Heat shock proteins (Hsps) are a conserved group of proteins with chaperone activity that are involved in protein folding and turnover. Due to their participation in protein folding, Hsps have been studied as a means to treat protein-misfolding disorders such as neurodegenerative diseases. Celastrol is a natural product that was identified as a possible treatment for the neurological disorder Huntington's disease. This thesis examines the effects of celastrol on the expression of Hsps in the rodent brain. Western immunoblotting revealed that changes in Hsp expression are not detectable following celastrol administration. In addition, Fluoro-Jade B staining demonstrated that neuroprotective levels of celastrol do not induce neuronal cell death in the mouse brain. This was of interest since high doses have been reported to be cytotoxic in tissue culture. These results support celastrol's development as a clinical agent in that the levels required for neuroprotection do not trigger neuronal cell death.