Lig-8, a bioactive lignophenol derivative from bamboo lignin, protects against neuronal damage in vitro and in vivo

Lig-8, a lignophenol derivative from bamboo lignin, potently suppresses oxidative stress-induced apoptosis. Here, we first examined in vitro whether lig-8 protects against neuronal damage induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) followed by reoxygenation, tunicamycin [endoplasmic reticulum(ER)-stress inducer], or PSI (proteasome inhibitor). In pheochromocytoma (PC12) cell cultures, lig-8 (1 to 30 mu M) concentration-dependently inhibited OGD- and tunicamycin (2 mu g/ml)-induced cell deaths (significant at >= 3 mu M and >= 1 mu M, respectively). In human neuroblastorna (SH-SY5Y) cell culture, the PSI-induced apoptotic cell death and fusion protein accumulation (revealing reduced proteasome activity) was inhibited by lig-8 (30 mu M). On the other hand, lig-8 at 30 mu M alone did not affect any proteasome activity under resting conditions. In vivo, lig-8 (0.1 nmol/eye) reduced intravitreal N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA, 20 nmol)-induced retinal damage (decreases in retinal ganglion cells and inner plexiform layer thickness). Hence, lig-8 protects, partly by inhibiting excessive ER-stress, against neuronal damage in vitro and in vivo.