Resveratrol (RES) is a
polyphenol with diverse beneficial biological and pharmacological activities, and our previous results have demonstrated its
neuroprotective effects in several
metabolic diseases, including
non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The aim of the present study is to investigate the potential effect of RES against
oleic acid (OA)-induced cell
injuries in SH-SY5Y cells and explore the possible mechanism. Based on the dose- and time-dependent effects of OA on cell proliferation and LDH release, SH-SY5Y cells were challenged with OA and incubated with or without RES (10-5-10-9 mM) or
sitagliptin (STG, 10-7 mM).
Lipid accumulation, SREBP1 and PPARα
protein expression,
glucose consumption and IRS1, AKT, ERK phosphorylation under
insulin stimulation, and ROS production were detected. The
protein expression of
brain-derived neurotrophic factor (
BDNF),
Copine 6, and key molecules in the Wnt/β-
catenin signalling pathway were measured via western blot. The expression of Wnt 1 was also measured via immunofluorescence staining. The results showed that RES treatment could alleviate the neurotoxicity induced by OA, as indicated by the increased cell proliferation and the decreased concentration of LDH in the supernatant. The increased
lipid deposition and
protein expression of SREBP1 and PPARα induced by OA was also reversed by treatment with RES. Moreover, RES could upregulate
glucose consumption and the
protein expression of phosphorylated IRS1, AKT, ERK and reduced ROS production in OA-induced SH-SY5Y cells. Furthermore, RES treatment reversed the imbalanced
protein expression of
BDNF,
Copine 6, p-β-
catenin, and Wnt 1 in SH-SY5Y cells induced by OA and decreased the hyperexpression of p-GSK3β. However, these effects were suppressed by DKK1, which is a specific antagonist of the Wnt signalling pathway. These results suggested that RES has a
neuroprotective effect against OA-induced cell injury and dysfunctional glucolipid metabolism, and the mechanism might involve its ability to regulate oxidative stress and
insulin resistance via the Wnt/β-
catenin signalling pathway.