Okadaic acid protects human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells from 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion-induced apoptosis

1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+) has been shown to selectively inhibit mitochondrial function and induce a parkinsonism-like syndrome. MPP+ stimulates the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and induces cell death in vitro. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of okadaic acid on MPP+-induced cell death in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. We found that MPP+-induced apoptosis and -ROS generation were blocked by okadaic acid. MPP+-mediated activation of AKT was also inhibited by okadaic acid. Taken together, these results demonstrate that okadaic acid protects against MPP+-induced apoptosis by blocking ROS stimulation and ROS-mediated signaling pathways in SH-SY5Y cells. These data indicated that okadaic acid could provide a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's disease.