Icariin modulates the sirtuin/NF-κB pathway and exerts anti-aging effects in human lung fibroblasts

Abstract

Icariin (ICA ) has been used as a promising anti-aging drug; however, its underlying molecular mechanism is yet to be elucidated. The present study aimed to determine the anti-aging molecular mechanisms of ICA . D- galactose (D- gal) was used to generate a cell aging model. IMR-90 human lung fibroblasts were pretreated with different concentrations of ICA (1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 μmol/l) for 6 h and subsequently incubated with D-gal (200 mmol/l) at 37°C for 72 h. Senescence of IMR- 90 cells was assessed by senescenc e-associated-β-galactosidase (SA- β-Gal) staining assay. Cell viability, and the expression levels of p53/p21, sirtuin (SIR T) 1/6 and p50/p65 were determined via the MTT assay and western blotting respectively. The results demonstrated that D- gal notably increased the proportion of SA- β-Gal-positive cells and decreased the viability of IMR- 90 cells; however, pretreatment with ICA reversed the effects of D- gal on IMR- 90 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, it was also demonstrated that the activation of p53/p21 and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling, and downregulation of SIR T1/6 may be involved in IMR- 90 cells, in D- gal-induced aging and ICA may effectively prevent IMR- 90 cells from these changes induced by D- gal. Taken together, the results of the present study suggest that the anti-aging molecular mechanisms of ICA may be associated with the regulation of the SIR T1/NF-κB pathway.