Protection of SH-SY5Y cells against 6-OHDA by 3,4-dihydroxybenzalacetone (DBL) and caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE)

3,4-dihydroxybenzalacetone (DBL) and Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) are both catechol-containing phenylpropanoid derivatives. In the present study, we compared the neuroprotective characteristics of these compounds and other phenylpropanoid derivatives against Parkinson’s disease-related neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). Pretreatment of human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells with DBL or CAPE, but not with other compounds, prevented 6-OHDA-induced cell death, with marked effects observed for CAPE. To identify the mechanism, we compared gene expression profiles induced by these compounds in SH-SY5Y cells. Two sets of samples, derived from DBL-treated, CAPE-treated, or control (without treatment) cells, were prepared. Genes upregulated more than two fold by each compound were analyzed.