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[Puerarin antagonizes activation effect of LPS on N9 microglia cells]
Qun-hua Bai1, Wen-ming Li, Hong-tao Liu
1Institute of Life Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China. baiqunh_744111@sina.com
Aim:
To investigate the effect of puerarin on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated N9 microglia cells.
Methods:
MTT was used to detect the cytotoxic effect of puerarin and LPS on N9 microglia cells. Flow cytometry was used to determine the effect of puerarin on cellular production of nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), apoptosis and cell cycle in LPS-activated N9 microglia cells. The amount of NO released into the supernatant was detected by Griess assay. The HE staining was used to show the morphological response of LPS-activated N9 microglia cells to puerarin.
Results:
Morphologically, amoeba-like LPS-activated N9 cells turned to be round in quiescence after treated with puerarin (100-200 micromol/L). Puerarin (50-200 micromol/L) caused less amount of NO released into the supernatant, with 12.43+/-0.11 micromol/L of NO at a dose of 200 micromol/L puerarin compared with 23.45+/-0.19 micromol/L in untreated control (P<0.01). Likewise, puerarin (200 micromol/L) completely abolished the ROS-producing ability of LPS-activated N9 cells, with a basal ROS level comparable to the non-LPS-treated control. Puerarin also exerted an anti-apoptotic effect on the LPS-activated N9 cells and rescued the cells from G(0)/G(1) arrest.
Conclusion:
Puerarin antagonizes activation effect of LPS on N9 microglia cells and might be a useful drug for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.
Insights
Puerarin effectively reduces inflammation in activated microglia cells by decreasing nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species. This suggests puerarin
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Cell Biology
Context:
- Microglia play a crucial role in neuroinflammation.
- Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a potent activator of microglia, inducing inflammatory responses.
- Neuroinflammation is implicated in various neurodegenerative disorders.
Purpose:
- To investigate the protective effects of puerarin on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated N9 microglia cells.
- To determine puerarin's impact on key inflammatory mediators and cellular processes in activated microglia.
Summary:
- Puerarin treatment reduced nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in LPS-activated N9 microglia.
- Puerarin demonstrated anti-apoptotic effects and prevented cell cycle arrest (G0/G1) in these cells.
- Morphological changes indicated a shift from an activated to a quiescent state upon puerarin treatment.
Impact:
- Puerarin antagonizes LPS-induced activation of microglia.
- These findings suggest puerarin's potential as a therapeutic agent for neurodegenerative diseases characterized by neuroinflammation.