Y. Zong, Q.-L. Ai, L.-M. Zhong, J.-N. Dai, P. Yang, Y. He, J. Sun, E.-A. Ling and D. Lu Pages 770 - 779 ( 10 )
Background and Purpose: Microglial activation plays an important role in neurodegenerative diseases by producing an array of proinflammatory enzymes and cytokines. Ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1), a well-known Chinese herbal medicine, has been well recognized for its anti-inflammatory effect. This study sought to determine the anti-inflammatory effects of Rg1and its underlying mechanisms in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated murine BV-2 microglial cells.
Experimental Approach: Murine BV-2 microglial cells were treated with Rg1 (10, 20, and 40 μM) and/or LPS (1 μg·ml-1). The mRNA and protein levels of proinflammatory proteins and cytokines were analysed by RT-PCR assay and double immunofluorescence labeling, respectively. Phosphorylation levels of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) cascades, inhibitor κB-α (IκB-α) and cyclic AMP- responsive element (CRE)-binding protein (CREB) were measured by western blot. U73122 (5 μM), a specific phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor, was used to determine if PLC signaling pathway might be involved in Rg1s action on activated BV-2 cells.
Key Results: Pretreatment with Rg1 significantly attenuated the LPS-induced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in BV-2 cells. U73122 blocked the effects of Rg1 on LPS-induced microglial activation. In addition, PLC-γ1 inhibition partially abolished the inhibitory effect of Rg1 on the phosphorylation of IκB-α, CREB, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK).
Conclusion and Implications: This investigation demonstrates that Rg1 significantly attenuates overactivation of microglial cells by repressing expression levels of neurotoxic proinflammatory mediators and cytokines via activation of PLC-γ1 signaling pathway.
BV-2 cells,Ginsenoside Rg1,lipopolysaccharide,inducible nitric oxide synthase,cyclooxygenase-2,tumor necrosis factor-α,interleukin-1β,phospholipase C-γ1,mitogen-activated protein kinases,extracellular signal regulated kinase1/2,c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase,p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase,cyclic AMP-responsive element (CRE)-binding protein,nuclear factor-κB,inhibitor κB-α
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