Title:A Proteomics Study of the Subacute Toxicity of Rat Brain after Long-
Term Exposure of Gelsemium elegans
Volume: 15
Author(s): Meng-Ting Zuo, Si-Juan Huang, Yong Wu, Mo-Huan Tang, Hui Yu, Xue-Jia Qi and Zhao-Ying Liu*
Affiliation:
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, Hunan, China
- Hunan Engineering
Technology Research Center of Veterinary Drugs, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, Hunan,
China
Keywords:
Gelsemium elegans, proteomics, toxicity, CDH23, hearing, western blot.
Abstract:
Background: Gelsemium elegans (G. elegans) has been shown to have strong pharmacological
and pharmacodynamic effects in relevant studies both in China and USA. G. elegans has
been used as a traditional medicine to treat a variety of diseases and even has the potential to be an
alternative to laboratory synthesized drugs. However, its toxicity severely limited its application
and development. At present, there is little attention paid to protein changes in toxicity.
Aim: This study investigated the toxicity effects after long-term exposure of G. elegans of the rat
brain through proteomic.
Methods: : 11 differential abundance proteins were detected, among which 8 proteins were higher
in the G. elegans- exposure group than in the control group, including Ig-like domain-containing
protein (N/A), receptor-type tyrosine-protein phosphatase C (Ptprc), disheveled segment polarity
protein 3 (Dvl3), trafficking protein particle complex 12 (Trappc12), seizure-related 6 homologlike
(Sez6l), transmembrane 9 superfamily member 4 (Tm9sf4), DENN domain-containing protein
5A (Dennd5a) and Tle4, whereas the other 3 proteins do the opposite including Golgi to ER traffic
protein 4 (Get4), vacuolar protein sorting 4 homolog B (Vps4b) and cadherin-related 23 (CDH23).
Furthermore, we performed validation of WB analysis on the key protein CDH23.
Results: Finally, only fewer proteins and related metabolic pathways were affected, indicating that
there was no accumulative toxicity of G. elegans. G. elegans has the potential to develop and utilize
of its pharmacological activity. CHD23, however, is a protein associated with hearing.
Conclusion: Whether the hearing impairment is a sequela after G. elegans exposure remains to be
further studied.