Matharage Gayani Dilshara

Hydrangenol inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production in BV2 microglial cells by suppressing the NF-κB pathway and activating the Nrf2-mediated HO-1 pathway

Abnormal nitrosative stress-induced neuroinflammation is implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, it has been thought that nitric oxide (NO) production is a good therapeutic target. In this sense, quercetin is a good chemopreventive component, because it has free radical-scavenging and anti-inflammatory activities. However, explicit mechanisms are not clear in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 microglial cell line. Here, we found that quercetin significantly suppressed LPS-induced NO production and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) expression. Notably, quercetin inhibited nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation by inhibiting degradation of the inhibitor of kappa Bα (IκBα) in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells corresponding to the inhibitory effect of specific NF-κB inhibitors, namely proteasome inhibitor I (PSI) and MG132. Quercetin caused significant increases in the levels of heme oxgenase-1 (HO-1) mRNA and protein. Notably, treatment with an HO-1 inducer, cobalt protoporphyrin (CoPP), significantly diminished LPS-stimulated NO production. Additionally, quercetin induced the specific DNA-binding activity of nuclear factor-2-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and siRNA-mediated knockdown of Nrf2 expression reduced the inhibitory effect of quercetin on LPS-stimulated NO production by inhibiting HO-1 expression, indicating that quercetin regulated NO production by inducing Nrf2-mediated HO-1 expression. Therefore, quercetin has the potential to decrease nitrosative stress by suppressing NF-κB activation and inducing Nrf2-mediated HO-1 expression.

Caffeine suppresses lipopolysaccharide-stimulated bv2 microglial cells by suppressing akt-mediated nf-κb activation and erk phosphorylation

Since the anti-inflammatory effect of caffeine is unclear in microglial cells, we performed whether caffeine attenuates the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 microglial cells. Caffeine substantially suppressed the LPS-induced pro-inflammatory mediators nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in BV2 microglial cells. These effects resulted from the inhibition of their regulatory genes inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cycloxygenase-2 (COX-2) and TNF-α. In addition, caffeine significantly decreased LPS-induced DNA-binding activity of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) by suppressing the nuclear translocation of p50 and p65 subunits. A specific NF-κB inhibitor, pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), attenuated the LPS-induced expression of iNOS, COX-2 and TNF-α genes. In addition, we elucidated that inhibition of Akt phosphorylation plays a crucial role in caffeine-mediated NF-κB regulation in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells. Caffeine also attenuated the LPS-induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and a specific inhibitor of ERK, PD98059, subsequently downregulated the expression of the pro-inflammatory genes iNOS, COX-2 and TNF-α. Taken together, our data indicate that caffeine suppresses the generation of pro-inflammatory mediators, such as NO, PGE(2) and TNF-α as well as their regulatory genes in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells by inhibiting Akt-dependent NF-κB activation and the ERK signaling pathway.

Anti-inflammatory mechanism of α-viniferin regulates lipopolysaccharide-induced release of proinflammatory mediators in BV2 microglial cells.

α-Viniferin is an oligostilbene of trimeric resveratrol and has anticancer activity; however, the molecular mechanism underlying the anti-inflammatory effects of α-viniferin has not been completely elucidated thus far. Therefore, we determined the mechanism by which α-viniferin regulates lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced expression of proinflammatory mediators in BV2 microglial cells. Treatment with α-viniferin isolated from Clematis mandshurica decreased LPS-induced production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). α-Viniferin also downregulated the LPS-induced expression of proinflammatory genes such as iNOS and COX-2 by suppressing the activity of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) via dephosphorylation of Akt/PI3K. Treatment with a specific NF-κB inhibitor, pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), indirectly showed that NF-κB is a crucial transcription factor for expression of these genes in the early stage of inflammation. Additionally, our results indicated that α-viniferin suppresses NO and PGE2 production in the late stage of inflammation through induction of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) regulated by nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2). Taken together, our data indicate that α-viniferin suppresses the expression of proinflammatory genes iNOS and COX-2 in the early stage of inflammation by inhibiting the Akt/PI3K-dependent NF-κB activation and inhibits the production of proinflammatory mediators NO and PGE2 in the late stage by stimulating Nrf2-mediated HO-1 signaling pathway in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells. These results suggest that α-viniferin may be a potential candidate to regulate LPS-induced inflammation.

Mangiferin inhibits tumor necrosis factor-α-induced matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression and cellular invasion by suppressing nuclear factor-κB activity

We investigated the effects of mangiferin on the expression and activity of metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and the invasion of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-stimulated human LNCaP prostate carcinoma cells. Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blot analysis showed that mangiferin significantly reversed TNF-α-induced mRNA and protein expression of MMP-9 expression. Zymography data confirmed that stimulation of cells with TNF-α significantly increased MMP-9 activity. However, mangiferin substantially reduced the TNF-α-induced activity of MMP-9. Additionally, a matrigel invasion assay showed that mangiferin significantly reduced TNF-α-induced invasion of LNCaP cells. Compared to untreated controls, TNF-α-stimulated LNCaP cells showed a significant increase in nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) luciferase activity. However, mangiferin treatment markedly decreased TNF-α-induced NF-κB luciferase activity. Furthermore, mangiferin suppressed nuclear translocation of the NF-κB subunits p65 and p50. Collectively, our results indicate that mangiferin is a potential anti-invasive agent that acts by suppressing NF-κB-mediated MMP-9 expression. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(10): 559-564]

18β-Glycyrrhetinic acid suppresses TNF-α induced matrix metalloproteinase-9 and vascular endothelial growth factor by suppressing the Akt-dependent NF-κB pathway.

Little is known about the molecular mechanism through which 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) inhibits metastasis and invasion of cancer cells. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of GA on the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in various types of cancer cells. We found that treatment with GA reduces tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-induced Matrigel invasion with few cytotoxic effects. Our findings also showed that MMP-9 and VEGF expression increases in response to TNF-α; however, GA reverses their expression. In addition, GA inhibited inhibitory factor kappa B degradation, sustained nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) subunits, p65 and p50, in the cytosol compartments, and consequently suppressed the TNF-α-induced DNA-binding activity and luciferase activity of NF-κB. Specific NF-κB inhibitors, pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate, MG132, and PS-1145, also attenuated TNF-α-mediated MMP-9 and VEGF expression as well as activity by suppressing their regulatory genes. Furthermore, phosphorylation of TNF-α-induced phosphatidyl-inositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt was significantly downregulated in the presence of GA accompanying with the inhibition of NF-κB activity, and as presumed, the specific PI3K/Akt inhibitor LY294002 significantly decreased MMP-9 and VEGF expression as well as activity. These results suggest that GA operates as a potential anti-invasive agent by downregulating MMP-9 and VEGF via inhibition of PI3K/Akt-dependent NF-κB activity. Taken together, GA might be an effective anti-invasive agent by suppressing PI3K/Akt-mediated NF-κB activity.

Downregulation of NO and PGE2 in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells by trans-isoferulic acid via suppression of PI3K/Akt-dependent NF-κB and activation of Nrf2-mediated HO-1.

Little is known about whether trans-isoferulic acid (TIA) regulates the production of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced proinflammatory mediators. Therefore, we examined the effect of TIA isolated from Clematis mandshurica on LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production in BV2 microglial cells. We found that TIA inhibited the production of LPS-induced NO and PGE2 without accompanying cytotoxicity in BV2 microglial cells. TIA also downregulated the expression levels of specific regulatory genes such as inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) by suppressing LPS-induced NF-κB activity via dephosphorylation of PI3K/Akt. In addition, we demonstrated that a specific NF-κB inhibitor PDTC and a selective PI3K/Akt inhibitor, LY294002 effectively attenuated the expression of LPS-stimulated iNOS and COX-2 mRNA, while LY294002 suppressed LPS-induced NF-κB activity, suggesting that TIA attenuates the expression of these proinflammatory genes by suppressing PI3K/Akt-mediated NF-κB activity. Our results showed that TIA suppressed NO and PGE2 production through the induction of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-dependent heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Taken together, our data indicate that TIA suppresses the production of proinflammatory mediators such as NO and PGE2, as well as their regulatory genes, in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells, by inhibiting PI3K/Akt-dependent NF-κB activity and enhancing Nrf2-mediated HO-1 expression.

Downregulation of pro-inflammatory mediators by a water extract of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill fruit in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells.

Schisandra chinensis has a long-standing history of medicinal use as a tonic, a sedative, an anti-tussive, and an anti-aging drug. Nevertheless, the antagonistic effects of S. chinensis against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated responses have not yet been studied. In this study, we investigated whether water extract of S. chinensis fruit (WESC) has the ability to attenuate the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. WESC inhibited the expression of LPS-induced pro-inflammatory mediators, namely, NO, PGE2, and TNF-α. Furthermore, gene expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and TNF-α was inhibited both at mRNA and protein synthesis levels, without any cytotoxic effect. Moreover, WESC significantly suppressed LPS-induced DNA-binding activity of NF-κB by inhibiting degradation of IκBα. It was found that pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), a specific NF-κB inhibitor, downregulates the expression of these pro-inflammatory genes to be closely regulated by NF-κB activity. Furthermore, we found that WESC retains dephosphorylation of Akt in response to LPS, and consequently suppressed the DNA-binding activity of NF-κB in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. LY294002, a specific Akt inhibitor, attenuated LPS-induced pro-inflammatory gene expression via suppression of NF-κB activity. Taken together, our results indicate that WESC downregulates the expression of pro-inflammatory genes involved in the synthesis of NO, PGE2, and TNF-α in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells by suppressing Akt-dependent NF-κB activity.

Potential chemoprevention of LPS-stimulated nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 production by α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-d-glucopyranosyl-3-indolecarbonate in BV2 microglial cells through suppression of the ROS/PI3K/Akt/NF-κB pathway

α-l-Rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-d-glucopyranosyl-3-indolecarbonate (RG3I) is a chemical constituent isolated from the commonly used Asian traditional medicinal plant, Clematis mandshurica; however, no studies have been reported on its anti-inflammatory properties. In the present study, we found that RG3I attenuates the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced DNA-binding activity of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) via the dephosphorylation of PI3K/Akt in BV2 microglial cells, leading to a suppression of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production, along with that of their regulatory genes, inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2). Further, the PI3K/Akt inhibitor, LY294002 diminished the expression of LPS-stimulated iNOS and COX-2 genes by suppressing NF-κB activity. Moreover, RG3I significantly inhibited LPS-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation similar to the ROS inhibitors, N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and glutathione (GSH). Notably, NAC and GSH abolished the LPS-induced expression of iNOS and Cox-2 in BV2 microglial cells by inhibiting NF-κB activity. Taken together, our data indicate that RG3I suppresses the production of proinflammatory mediators such as NO and PGE2 as well as their regulatory genes in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt- and ROS-dependent NF-κB signaling pathway, suggesting that RG3I may be a good candidate to regulate LPS-induced inflammatory response.

Morin downregulates nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 production in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells by suppressing NF-κB activity and activating HO-1 induction

Morin possesses anti-inflammatory activity against septic shock and allergic responses, and prevents acute liver damage. However, the biological mechanism of action of morin in neuroinflammation remains largely unknown. Therefore, the present study investigated whether morin has the ability to attenuate expression of proinflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 microglial cells. Morin inhibited the expression of LPS-induced proinflammatory mediators such as NO and PGE2, without any cytotoxic effects. Furthermore, LPS-induced inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were inhibited both at the mRNA and protein levels in response to morin. Morin also attenuated LPS-induced DNA-binding activity of nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB) and its promoter activity. Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), a specific NF-κB inhibitor, downregulated the expression of LPS-induced iNOS and COX-2, which suggests that morin-mediated NF-κB inhibition is the main signaling pathway responsible for the inhibition of iNOS and COX-2 expression. Additionally, morin increased induction of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) activity, leading to the suppression of NO and PGE2 production. Our results indicate that morin downregulates the expression of proinflammatory genes, such as iNOS and COX-2, involved in the synthesis of NO and PGE2 in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells by suppressing NF-κB activity and activation of HO-1. Taken together, the findings of the present study suggest that morin may have potential as a therapeutic for the prevention of neuroinflammation.

Isobutyrylshikonin inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 production in BV2 microglial cells by suppressing the PI3K/Akt-mediated nuclear transcription factor-κB pathway

Microglia are important macrophages to defend against pathogens in the central nervous system (CNS); however, persistent or acute inflammation of microglia lead to CNS disorders via neuronal cell death. Therefore, we theorized that a good strategy for the treatment of CNS disorders would be to target inflammatory mediators from microglia in disease. Consequently, we investigated whether isobutyrylshikonin (IBS) attenuates the production of proinflammatory mediators, such as nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2, in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 microglial cells. Treatment with IBS inhibited the secretion of NO and prostaglandin E2 (as well as the expression of their key regulatory genes), inducible NO synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Isobutyrylshikonin also suppressed LPS-induced DNA-binding activity of nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB), by inhibiting the nuclear translocation of p50 and p65 in addition to blocking the phosphorylation and degradation of IκBα. Pretreatment with pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate, a specific NF-κB inhibitor, showed the down-regulation of LPS-induced iNOS and COX-2 messenger RNA by suppressing NF-κB activity. This indirectly suggests that IBS-mediated NF-κB inhibition is the main signaling pathway involved in the inhibition of iNOS and COX-2 expression. In addition, IBS attenuated LPS-induced phosphorylation of PI3K and Akt, which are upstream molecules of NF-κB, in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells. The functional aspects of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway were analyzed with LY294002, which is a specific PI3K/Akt inhibitor that attenuated LPS-induced iNOS and COX-2 expression by suppressing NF-κB activity. These data suggest that an IBS-mediated anti-inflammatory effect may be involved in suppressing the PI3K/Akt-mediated NF-κB signaling pathway.