The study shows that making PC12 nerve‑like cells produce more of the humanin variant HNG helps them survive a toxic form of amyloid‑beta that normally triggers cell death, indicating a protective effect in a dish.

To investigate the effect of [Gly14]-Humanin overexpression on Abeta(25-35);-induced PC12 cell apoptosis. Recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.1(-)/HNG-FLAG was transfected into PC12 cells by liposome method. The subclone cell lines were obtained by persistent G418 selection. The HNG gene expression of PC12 cells was detected by immunocytochemistry. After being treated with 25 micromol/L Abeta(25-35); for 24 h, cell viability was determined by MTT assay, and apoptosis rate was detected by using flow cytometric analysis. Hochest33258 staining was used to observe the morphological changes of cellular nuclei. PC12 cell lines stably expressing HNG gene was successfully selected. After being treated with 25 micromol/L Abeta(25-35); for 24 h, cell viability of PC12 cells overexpression HNG was significant elevated compared with empty plasmid transfected cells (P<0.05), and the apoptosis rate was lower significantly (P<0.05). By Hoechst 33258 staining, the nuclei of empty plasmid transfected PC12 cells exhibited highly condensed and fragmented nuclei morphology which was the typical characteristics of apoptosis, and the nuclei of PC12 cells overexpression HNG were round and homogeneously stained. Overexpression of HNG prevented the cell apoptosis induced by Abeta(25-35); in PC12 cells.