Camel α-LA was purchased from Cusabio Biotech Co. Ltd, (Cat#CSB-YP012724 CYV Wuhan, China). Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium/F12 (DMEM) were purchased from Gibco; Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc (Waltham, MA, USA). Assay kits for cell viability (MTT Assay kit) was purchased from Abcam, ab211091 (Cambridge, MA 02139-1517 USA). HPLC standard of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH). were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich Inc. (St. Louis, MO, USA). TRIzol was purchased from Sigma- Aldrich Inc. (St. Louis, MO, USA). Hi-Fi cDNA Synthesis Kit for conversion of RNA to cDNA was purchased from Abcam, ab185916, and the expression level of the gene was checked by Applied BiosystemsTM PowerUpTM SYBRTM Green Master Mix. Nitric Oxide Assay Kit (Colorimetric) (ab65328) was purchased from Abcam (Cambridge, MA 02139-1517 USA). Human IL-8 and human MMP-9 ELISA kits were purchased from Raybiotech. Hoechst 33342 Staining Dye Solution 5ml, (ab228551), SIRT1 (ab189494), FOXO3a (ab109629), β-actin (ab8227) Goat Anti-Rabbit IgG H&L (HRP) (ab6721) antibodies were purchased from Abcam (Cambridge, MA 02139-1517 USA). ECL Western Blotting Substrate Kit (ab65623) was also purchased from Abcam (Cambridge, MA 02139-1517 USA).
2.1 Cell culture
SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line was purchased from the National Center for Cell Science (NCCS), Pune, India. Cells were cultured in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle’s Medium (DMEM) supplemented with 10% FBS and 1% antimycotic/antibiotic and maintained in a humidified incubator at 37° C with 5% CO2 95% air. Culture medium was replaced every after two days. Cells were pretreated with rotenone (500 nM) for 8 h and then incubated with α-LA (0.2 mg/ml) for 18 h.
2.2 Assessment of cell viability
Cell viability was assessed using the 1-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-3,5-diphenylformazan (MTT) assay kit. Briefly, the culture medium was discarded and 50 µL serum free media with 50 µL MTT solution was added into each well, and plates were incubated at 37 °C for 3 h. After incubation 150 µL of MTT solvent was added into each well and the plate was wrapped with foil and kept for shaking on an orbital shaker for 15 min. Absorbance was recorded at 590 nm using 96 well microplate reader Synergy HT (Biotek).
2.3 Determination of NO accumulation in SH-SY5Y culture
Levels of NO were assessed using a NO assay kit. In brief, 2 X 106 cells were cultured in 96 well plate and after treatment, the cell culture media were washed with cold PBS. Cells were resuspended in 100µl of ice-cold Assay buffer, then homogenized and centrifuge for 2-5 min at 14000 rpm and 40 C temperature. Collected supernatant was transferred to a fresh tube and kept on ice. Nitrate reductase, enzyme cofactor, assay buffer, and samples were added into 96 well plate and incubated at room temperature for 1h to convert nitrate to nitrite. 1µl of enhancer were added into each well and incubated at room temperature for 10min. 50 µl of Griess reagent R1 and 50 µl of Griess reagent R2 were added and the intensity of the chromophore was used to determine the NO levels at 540 nm using 96 well microplate reader Synergy HT (Biotek).
2.4 Determination of NADH level
Cells were harvested, washed with PBS, and lysed by using 3% perchloric acid in methanol. The standard curve for NADH was generated by dissolving 1 mg of NADH in methanol (1 mg/ml) The concentration of NADH was measured by UV-HPLC (Agilent) using a C18 column (Eclipse plus C18, particle size 5 µm column size (4.6 × 25 mm)). The mobile phase was composed of Solvent A: 0.2 M sodium acetate pH 4.8 and Solvent B: methanol. The time program used was: Solvent A: 90% (v/v), Solvent B: 10% (v/v) flow rate was 1 ml/min. The analysis was completed within 11 min. UV detection was performed at 220, 260, and 280 nm. Data was acquired using CP Open Lab Control Panel.
2.5 Dual Staining
Acridine orange and ethidium bromide fluorescent probes were used to analyze apoptosis by fluorescent microscopy. After the treatment schedule as described in the previous experiment, the medium was removed from the plating cell (1 X 105) were washed with PBS twice stained with 100µg/ml of AO/EB stain. To remove excess dye cells were incubated for about 20 min at room temp and then washed with warm PBS. Fluorescent microscopy was used for morphological studies and photography.
2.6 Hoechst nuclear Staining
After the treatment cells were washed with PBS and incubated with Hoechst 100ng/ml in PBS in the dark for 15 min. at room temperature. Cells were again washed with PBS after Hoechst staining in PBS for 5 min at room temperature and visualized by using the fluorescence microscope.
2.7 Determination of the level of IL-8 and MMP-9
Level of IL-8 and MMP-9 were determined through the ELISA kit according to the manufacturer’s protocol.
2.8 Molecular Docking
Protein Data Base ID of SIRT1 (ID:4I5I) & PubChem ID of rotenone (ID:6758) was used in cDock software for protein-ligand interaction. For the docking of SIRT1 and camel α-LA uniport was used for the FASTA format and docking pattern was recorded in HDOCK. Hydrogen atoms and charges were added while all the crystallographic water molecules were removed.
2.9 Measurement of gene expression
Total RNA was isolated from the cells by using TriZol and its quality was checked by agarose gel electrophoresis. RNA was converted to cDNA using a cDNA synthesis kit according to the manufacturer’s protocol. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) was performed using Syber green master mix in triplicate using Applied Biosystems 7500 fast real-time PCR System.
Relative gene expression was determined by a comparative threshold cycle and normalized against β actin. Ct value of the genes was normalized using the formula δ Ct= Ct gene – Ct β actin. The primer sequence used is as follows;
Beta actin
FP-TCCACGAAACTACCTTCAACTC
RP- CAGTGATCTCCTTCTGCATCC
SIRT1
FP- AGAACCCATGGAGGATGAAAG
RP TCATCTCCATCAGTCCCAAATC
FOXO3a
FP- AGAGCTGAGACCAGGGTAAA
RP-GACAGGCTTCACTACCAGATTC
2.10 Measurement of Protein expression level
Total protein was isolated by using the ice cold RIPA buffer supplemented with protease inhibitor and cell debris was removed by centrifugation at 1400 rpm for 20 min. protein concentration was evaluated by BCA kit and then the protein sample (30µg) was separated by 12 % SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and transfer to the PVDF membrane. After protein transfer, the membrane was blocked with 5 % skimmed milk in PBST and shake on a shaker for 1 hour at room temperature. The membrane was washed 3 times with PBS and probed with rabbit monoclonal 10 antibodies against SIRT1, FOXO3a, and with rabbit polyclonal antibody against β-actin followed by incubation with horseradish peroxidase conjugated Goat Anti Rabbit IgG H&L 20 antibody.
Immunoblots were developed with ECL western blotting substrate kit. The bands were scanned and quantified by densitometer analysis after normalization with β-actin.
2.11 Statistical Analyses
Data are expressed as mean ± SEM. Statistical analyses were performed through one-way ANOVA followed Bonferroni multiple comparisons test by using GraphPad Prism 5.0 software. A probability value of less than 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.