Transabdominal ultrasound alleviates LPS-induced neuroinflammation by modulation of TLR4/NF-κB signaling and tight junction protein expression

• Published in: Life sciences (1973) Vol. 325; p. 121769
• Main Authors: Yang, Feng-Yi, Chan, Wan-Hsuan, Gao, Cong-Yong, Zheng, Yin-Ting, Ke, Chia-Hua
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 15.07.2023
• Subjects: Animals; Colonic inflammation; IBD; Inflammation - chemically induced; Inflammation - therapy; Lipopolysaccharides - toxicity; LPS; Mice; Neuroinflammation; Neuroinflammatory Diseases; NF-kappa B - metabolism; Tight Junction Proteins - genetics; Tight Junction Proteins - metabolism; Toll-Like Receptor 4 - metabolism; Ultrasound; Neuroinflammation; IBD; Colonic inflammation; Ultrasound; LPS
• ISSN: 0024-3205; 1879-0631
• DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.121769

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may be a risk factor in the development of brain inflammation. It has been demonstrated noninvasive neuromodulation through sub-organ ultrasound stimulation. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether abdominal low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) alleviates lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cortical inflammation via inhibition of colonic inflammation. Colonic and cortical inflammation was induced in mice by LPS (0.75 mg/kg, i.p. injection) for 7 days, followed by application of LIPUS (0.5 and 1.0 W/cm2) to the abdominal area for 6 days. Biological samples were collected for Western blot analysis, gelatin zymography, colon length measurement, and histological evaluation. LIPUS treatment significantly attenuated LPS-induced increases in IL-6, IL-1β, COX-2, and cleaved caspase-3 expression in the colon and cortex of mice. Moreover, LIPUS significantly increased the levels of tight junction proteins in the epithelial barrier in the mouse colon and cortex with LPS-induced inflammation. Compared to the group treated only with LPS, the LIPUS-treated groups showed decreased muscle thickness and increased crypt length and colon length. Furthermore, LIPUS treatment reduced inflammation by inhibiting the LPS-induced activation of TLR4/NF-κB inflammatory signaling in the brain. We found that LIPUS alleviated LPS-induced colonic and cortical inflammation through abdominal stimulation of mice. These results suggest that abdominal LIPUS stimulation may be a novel therapeutic strategy against neuroinflammation via enhancement of tight junction protein levels and inhibition of inflammatory responses in the colon. [Display omitted] •Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) alleviated LPS-induced colonic and cortical inflammation through abdominal stimulation of mice.•Abdominal LIPUS has anti-inflammatory effects on the brain by inhibiting TLR4/NF-κB inflammatory signaling.•Abdominal LIPUS could be a potential strategy to prevent neuroinflammation through the gut–brain axis.