title: Vaccinium bracteatum Thunb. Exerts Anti-Inflammatory Activity by Inhibiting NF-κB Activation in BV-2 Microglial Cells.
abstract: This study was designed to evaluate the pharmacological effects of Vaccinium bracteatum Thunb. methanol extract (VBME) on microglial activation and to identify the underlying mechanisms of action of these effects. The anti-inflammatory properties of VBME were studied using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV-2 microglial cells. We measured the production of nitric oxide (NO), inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) as inflammatory parameters. We also examined the effect of VBME on intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and the activity of nuclear factor-kappa B p65 (NF-κB p65). VBME significantly inhibited LPS-induced production of NO and PGE2 and LPS-mediated upregulation of iNOS and COX-2 expression in a dose-dependent manner; importantly, VBME was not cytotoxic. VBME also significantly reduced the generation of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. In addition, VBME significantly dampened intracellular ROS production and suppressed NF-κB p65 translocation by blocking IκB-α phosphorylation and degradation in LPS-stimulated BV2 cells. Our findings indicate that VBME inhibits the production of inflammatory mediators in BV-2 microglial cells by suppressing NF-κB signaling. Thus, VBME may be useful in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases due to its ability to inhibit inflammatory mediator production in activated BV-2 microglial cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seung-Hwan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Shi-Xun
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yong-Hyun
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jee-Yeon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Bo-Ram
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon 21983, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Taek Hwan
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Gachon University, Incheon 21936, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sun Yeou
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seok-Yong
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Choon-Gon
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Jang
keywords: Anti-inflammatory activity; BV-2 microglial cells; Lipopolysaccharide; Nuclear factor-κB p65; Vaccinium bracteatum Thunb