Fig 10. The proposed mechanisms for the protective effect of TC-HT against H₂O₂ or Aβ-induced neural injury.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in the cell membrane could be the upstream receptor sensing extracellular TC-HT stimulation and transmit the signal to activate the PI3K/Akt pathway, which induces Nrf2 and CREB activations. The transcription factors entering the nucleus further enhance the expressions of HO-1 and other prosurvival proteins which decrease the ROS level and inhibit the apoptosis signal.