Rifampicin inhibits microglial inflammation and improves neuron survival against inflammation

Microglial activation plays an important role in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases, and suppression of microglial activation prevents the progression of neurodegeneration. Rifampicin, a bacteriocidal antibiotic, induces immunosuppression. We hypothesized that rifampicin might be neuroprotective by inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory mediators, thereby suppressing microglial activation. In the present study, we examined the effects of rifampicin on the production of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced pro-inflammatory mediators and their signaling pathways in BV2 microglia. We also assessed the neuroprotective effects of rifampicin using a co-culture of microglia and neurons. Our results showed that rifampicin inhibited the LPS-stimulated expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-1β, as well as the production of nitric oxide and prostaglandin E₂. Moreover, rifampicin suppressed LPS-induced nuclear factor-kappa B activation by blocking the degradation of the inhibitor of the nuclear transcription factor NF-kappa B. Rifampicin inhibited the phosphorylation of mitogen activated protein kinases, although protein kinase B was not inhibited. Preincubation of microglia with rifampicin reduced neurotoxicity and improved neuron survival in a microglia-neuronal co-culture system. Taken together, these findings suggest that rifampicin, with its anti-inflammatory properties, might be a novel treatment for neurodegenerative diseases.