title: [Realgar is active ingredient of Angong Niuhuang pill in protection against LPS-induced neuroinflammation].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effects of Angong Niuhuang pill (AGNHW) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neuroinflammation and further to investigate the role of realgar and cinnabar on AGNHW-mediated neuroprotection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary rat midbrain neuron-glia cultures were used as an in vitro model to examine the effects of AGNHW on LPS-induced dopamine (DA) neuronal damage. Cultures were divided randomly into five groups: control, LPS, LPS plus AGNHW, LPS plus realgar and LPS plus cinnabar. Dopaminergic neurotoxicity was measured by [3H] DA uptake assay. The production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) was quantified via the DCFH-DA probe. Real-time RT-PCR was applied to detect the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory factors. Then the protein levels of these factors were determined by ELISA and western blot assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the control group, LPS apparently decreased DA uptake capacity (P < 0.05); induced the production of intracellular ROS (P < 0.05); enhanced the mRNA expression of TNF-alpha, iNOS, IL-13 and COX-2 (P < 0.05) and the release of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and PGE2 in the supernatant of cultures (P < 0.05); and also increased the level of iNOS protein (P < 0.05). Compared with the LPS group, AGNHW and realgar significantly inhibited LPS-induced reduction of DA uptake (P < 0.05); attenuated the production of intracellular ROS (P < 0.05) and the mRNA expression of TNF-alpha, iNOS, IL-1beta and COX-2 (P < 0.05) and the release of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and PGE2 (P < 0.05) and the level of iNOS protein (P < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference between LPS group and LPS plus cinnabar group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AGNHW is effective in protecting against LPS-induced neuroinflammation, and realgar is one of active components for AGNHW to produce anti-inflammatory effects.
authors: Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200071, China. zhangfengzmc@163.com
authors: Feng
authors: F
authors: Zhang
authors: Yuanfu
authors: Y
authors: Lu
authors: Jie
authors: J
authors: Liu
authors: Jingshan
authors: J
authors: Shi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001152:Arsenicals / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D007249:Inflammation / Q000517:prevention & control; D042541:Intracellular Space / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013440:Sulfides / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001152:Arsenicals; D016207:Cytokines; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013440:Sulfides; D013481:Superoxides; C058317:arsenic disulfide