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Updated: Aug 13, 2025

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Isolation of Cortical Microglia with Preserved Immunophenotype and Functionality From Murine Neonates
Published on: January 30, 2014
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Osthole Antagonizes Microglial Activation in an NRF2-Dependent Manner
Chuan-Hsiu Liu1,2, Mei-Ying Chen3, Yueh-Hsiung Kuo4,5,6
1Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan.
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
|January 21, 2023
Summary
Osthole (OST) antagonizes harmful microglial activation in neurodegenerative disease models. This effect relies on the NRF2 pathway, highlighting OST as a potential therapeutic agent.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Microglia, the brain's immune cells, are implicated in neurodegenerative diseases.
- Osthole (OST), a coumarin from *Cnidium monnieri*, exhibits microglia-antagonizing properties.
- The precise mechanism of OST's action on microglia remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the mechanism by which Osthole (OST) antagonizes microglial activation.
- To investigate the role of the NRF2 pathway in OST's anti-inflammatory effects.
- To evaluate OST's therapeutic potential in models of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration.
Main Methods:
- Utilized lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced microglial BV2 cell line.
- Employed amyloid-beta (Aβ)-overexpressing fruit fly models.
- Investigated the NRF2 cascade activation and its necessity for OST's effects.
- Assessed OST's impact on survival, behavior, and oxidative stress in fly models.
Main Results:
- OST treatment activated the NRF2 cascade in LPS-induced inflammatory conditions.
- Silencing NRF2 abolished OST's ability to antagonize microglial activation.
- OST effectively reduced microglial activation in both cell and fly models.
- OST administration improved survival, climbing ability, and learning in Aβ-overexpressing flies, while reducing oxidative stress.
Conclusions:
- Osthole (OST) antagonizes microglial activation triggered by LPS and Aβ.
- The NRF2 pathway is essential for mediating OST's beneficial effects.
- OST demonstrates potential as a therapeutic compound for neurodegenerative conditions involving microglial activation.
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