Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2026, Vol. 21 ›› Issue (10): 5013-5019.doi: 10.4103/NRR.NRR-D-25-00501

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Lycium barbarum glycopeptide protects neurons from amyloid-beta toxicity

Zihang Chen1, 2, #, Xiao Wang3, #, Simin Wang4, #, Zelin Wu1, Huajun Wang1, *, Kin Chiu2, *, Xiaofei Zheng1, *, Kwok-Fai So2, 3, *   

  1. 1Department of Sports Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Speed Capability, The Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Precision Orthopedics and Regenerative Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China; 
    2Department of Psychology, State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; 
    3Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of Central Nervous System (CNS) Regeneration, Ministry of Education Central Nervous System (CNS) Regeneration Collaborative Joint Laboratory, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China; 
    4Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, China
  • Online:2026-10-15 Published:2026-06-15
  • Contact: Kwok-Fai So, PhD, hrmaskf@hku.hk; Xiaofei Zheng, PhD, xfzheng@jnu.edu.cn; Kin Chiu, PhD, datwai@hku.hk; Huajun Wang, PhD, whj323@126.com.
  • Supported by:
    This study was supported by the Clinical Frontier Technology Program of the First Hospital of Jinan University, No. JNU1AF-CFTP-2022-a01204 (to XZ); Science and Technology Projects in Guangzhou, No. 2024A03 J0971 (to XZ); the Open Fund of Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Reconstruction, No. 2023B121203001 (to HW).

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Abstract:

Oligomeric amyloid-beta deposition within neurons and its associated neurotoxicity are among the most direct indicators of the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Investigations into strategies aimed at reducing amyloid-beta accumulation or promoting its clearance in neurons are currently being carried out. Lycium barbarum glycopeptide is rich in biologically active compounds and possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties. This study verified that the oligomer amyloid-beta1–42 induced toxic effects in mouse N2a neuroblastoma cells, resulting in elevated levels of reactive oxygen species and increased expression of the inflammatory enzyme inducible nitric oxide synthase. Lycium barbarum glycopeptide counteracted these effects by alleviating cell damage, enhancing cell viability, reducing the levels of reactive oxygen species and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression, and up-regulating the mRNA levels of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase 1, superoxide dismutase 2, and glutathione peroxidase 4. Lycium barbarum glycopeptide also activated the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt/p70S6K signaling pathway and promoted the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, thus exerting neuroprotective effects. These findings indicate that Lycium barbarum glycopeptide may be a promising candidate for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

Key words: Alzheimer’s disease, amyloid-beta, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, Lycium barbarum glycopeptide, N2A cells, neuroinflammation, neuroprotection, oxidative stress, PI3K/Akt/p70S6K signaling, reactive oxygen species