Luteolin shows an antidepressant-like effect via suppressing endoplasmic reticulum stress

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Pharmacology
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Depression is a major public health concern.
• Emerging evidence links depression to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress.
• Luteolin, a flavonoid found in plants, possesses known anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety, and memory-enhancing properties, suggesting potential brain penetration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the neuroprotective effects of luteolin against ER stress-induced neuronal cell death.
• To evaluate the antidepressant-like effects of chronic luteolin treatment in a mouse model of depression.

Main Methods:

• Human neuroblastoma cells were treated with tunicamycin to induce ER stress.
• Luteolin's effects on cell viability, ER stress markers (GRP78, GRP94), and apoptosis (caspase-3 activation) were assessed.
• Behavioral tests were conducted on corticosterone-treated mice to assess antidepressant-like effects following chronic luteolin administration.

Main Results:

• Luteolin significantly suppressed tunicamycin-induced cell death in neuroblastoma cells.
• Luteolin treatment increased the expression of GRP78 and GRP94 and decreased caspase-3 activation.
• Chronic luteolin administration exhibited antidepressant-like effects in behavioral tests and attenuated ER stress markers in the mouse hippocampus.

Conclusions:

• Luteolin exerts neuroprotective effects against ER stress-induced neuronal cell death.
• Luteolin demonstrates antidepressant-like effects, potentially through the suppression of ER stress.
• These findings suggest luteolin as a potential therapeutic agent for depression.