Protective Effects Of Glycine On The Stressed Sh-sy5y Cells

Objectives:To investigate the cytoprotection of glycine (Gly) on the ATP-depleted SH-SY5Y or SH-SY5Y cells under neuroexcitotoxicity and the possible mechanisms.Methods:SH-SY5Y cells were exposed to ATP depletion or different concentrations of glutamate in the presence or absence of glycine. The cell injury was assessed by measurements of ATP concentration, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, and MTT activity. Glycine receptor and NMDA receptor expressions were analyzed by a western blot.Results:Gly was found to ameliorate cellular ATP level decrease within 60 minutes of treatment with rotenone and antimycin A. After the treatment for 6 hours, Gly could reduce the LDH release. Meanwhile, glycine receptor was over-expressed under the stress, which was alleviated by addition of glycine to cells. Also, NMDA receptor expression was depressed under the stress, which was not influenced by addition of glycine. On the other hand, Gly was found to protect cells under high concentration of glutamate after the treatment for 2 hours.Conclusion:These results demonstrated that SH-SY5Y cells exposed to ATP depletion or glutemate could be protected by Gly, which alleviated over-expression of glycine receptor under stress.