Anti-Neuroinflammatory Effects of Fucoxanthin via Inhibition of Akt/NF-[kappa]B and MAPKs/AP-1 Pathways and Activation of PKA/CREB Pathway in Lipopolysaccharide-Activated BV-2 Microglial Cells

• Published in: Neurochemical research Vol. 42; no. 2; p. 667
• Main Authors: Zhao, Dong, Kwon, Seung-hwan, Chun, Yoon Sun, Gu, Ming-yao, Yang, Hyun Ok
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer Nature B.V 01.02.2017
• ISSN: 0364-3190; 1573-6903
• DOI: 10.1007/s11064-016-2123-6

Microglia play a critical role in controlling the homeostasis of the brain, but over-activated microglia secrete pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines, which induce neuronal cell death. Fucoxanthin (Fx), a marine carotenoid, has demonstrated a variety of beneficial health effects. Despite accumulating evidence supporting the immune-modulating effects of Fx in vitro, the underlying signaling pathways remain unknown. In the present study, Fx dose-dependently inhibited the secretion of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced pro-inflammatory mediators including interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-[alpha], reactive oxygen species (ROS), prostaglandin (PG) E2, and nitric oxide (NO) productions, and also suppressed the expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 enzymes. Further, the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis indicated IL-6, TNF-[alpha], iNOS, and COX-2 mRNA expression were suppressed by treatment with Fx in a dose-dependently manner. The mechanism studies indicated that Fx blocks protein kinase B (Akt)/nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-[kappa]B) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPKs)/transcription factor (AP)-1 pathways. In addition, we demonstrated that Fx increases nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf)-2 activation and heme oxygenase (HO)-1 expression in LPS-activated BV-2 microglia. Subsequently, we found that Fx also mediates the reactive oxygen species (ROS) by activating protein kinase A (PKA)/cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) response element binding protein (CREB) pathway, and promotes the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). These results indicate that Fx may be more effective and potential than other candidates via either decreasing the pro-inflammatory factors production or increasing the neuroprotective molecules expression for therapy of neurodegenerative diseases.