p62 protects SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells against H2O2-induced injury through the PDK1/Akt pathway

The p62 protein has been identified as a major component of the protein aggregations associated with neurodegenerative disease. Oxidative insult has also been identified as a principal cause of neurodegenerative disease. Thus, in the present study, we investigated the potential role of p62 in oxidative stress-induced cell death in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells. The results indicated that H₂O₂ treatment induced p62 expression in SH-SY5Y cells. In addition, p62 showed neuroprotective effects against H₂O₂-induced cell death in differentiated SH-SY5Y cells. p62 expression prolonged Akt phosphorylation during the later stages of H₂O₂-induced cell death. Furthermore, coexpression of p62 and wild-type PDK1, the upstream kinase of Akt, further increased Akt phosphorylation and cell viability, whereas the expression of kinase-defective PDK1 reversed the cytoprotective effects of p62 under oxidative stress. Overexpression of p62 led to the dissociation of PDK1 from the 14-3-3θ protein, which is thought to be a negative regulator of PDK1 kinase activity. These findings suggest a mechanism that involves the p62-mediated modulation of the interaction between signaling molecules and results in cell survival.