scholarly journals Bixin Attenuates Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis by Suppressing TXNIP/NLRP3 Inflammasome Activity and Activating NRF2 Signaling

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ye Yu ◽  
Dong-Ming Wu ◽  
Jing Li ◽  
Shi-Hua Deng ◽  
Teng Liu ◽  
...  

Multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune and degenerative disease, is characterized by demyelination and chronic neuroinflammation. Bixin is a carotenoid isolated from the seeds of Bixa orellana that exhibits various potent pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor properties. However, the effects of bixin on MS have not yet been examined. To evaluate the effects and underlying molecular mechanisms of bixin on MS, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) was established in C57BL/6 mice, which were treated via intragastric administration of bixin solutions. To evaluate the molecular mechanisms of bixin, quantitative reverse-transcription PCR, western blot, immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analyses were performed. We found that bixin significantly improved the symptoms and pathology in EAE mice, reduced the release of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17, and IFN-γ, and increased the expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. And bixin reduced the proportion of Th1 and Th17 cells in the spleen and CNS, and suppressed microglia aggregation, and TXNIP/NLRP3 inflammasome activity by scavenging excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) in EAE mice. Furthermore, bixin inhibited inflammation and oxidative stress via activating nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2), and its downstream genes in EAE mice, meanwhile, these effects were suppressed upon treatment with an NRF2 inhibitor, ML385. Bixin prevented neuroinflammation and demyelination in EAE mice primarily by scavenging ROS through activation of the NRF2 signaling pathway. Taken together, our results indicate that bixin is a promising therapeutic candidate for treatment of MS.

Author(s):  
Ye Yu ◽  
Dong-ming Wu ◽  
Jing Li ◽  
Shi-hua Deng ◽  
Teng Liu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune and degenerative disease, is characterized by demyelination and chronic neuroinflammation.Bixin is a carotenoid isolated from the seeds of Bixa orellana that exhibits various potent pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammation, and anti-tumor. However, the effects of bixin on MS remain elusive.Methods To evaluate the effects and underlying molecular mechanisms of bixin on MS, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) was established in C57BL/6 mice, which were treated with intragastric administration of bixin solutions. To evaluate the molecular mechanisms of bixin, quantitative reverse-transcription PCR, western blot, immunohistochemistry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analyses were performed.Results We found that bixin significantly improved the symptoms in EAE mice, and suppressed microglia aggregation and TXNIP/NLRP3 inflammasome activity by scavenging excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS). Furthermore, bixin activated nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and its downstream genes in EAE mice, and these effects were suppressed upon inhibiting Nrf2 expression with the Nrf2 inhibitor ML385.Conclusions Bixin prevented neuroinflammation and demyelination in EAE mice mainly by scavenging ROS through activation of the Nrf2 signaling pathway. Taken together, our results indicate that bixin is a promising therapeutic candidate to treat MS.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 316-325
Author(s):  
Mahdi Goudarzvand ◽  
Yaser Panahi ◽  
Reza Yazdani ◽  
Hosein Miladi ◽  
Saeed Tahmasebi ◽  
...  

Objective: Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a widely used model for multiple sclerosis. The present study has been designed to compare the efficiencies of oral and intraperitoneal (IP) administration of D-aspartate (D-Asp) on the onset and severity of EAE, the production of neurosteroids, and the expression of neurosteroid receptors and inflammatory mediators in the brain of EAE mice. Methods: In this study, EAE was induced in C57BL/6 mice treated with D-Asp orally (D-Asp-Oral) or by IP injection (D-Asp-IP). On the 20th day, brains (cerebrums) and cerebellums of mice were evaluated by histological analyses. The brains of mice were analyzed for: 1) Neurosteroid (Progesterone, Testosterone, 17β-estradiol) concentrations; 2) gene expressions of cytokines and neurosteroid receptors by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and 3) quantitative determination of D-Asp using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Further, some inflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) were identified in the mouse serum using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Results: Our findings demonstrated that after D-Asp was administered, it was taken up and accumulated within the brain. Further, IP injection of D-Asp had more beneficial effects on EAE severity than oral gavage. The concentration of the testosterone and 17β-estradiol in D-Asp-IP group was significantly higher than that of the control group. There were no significant differences in the gene expression of cytokine and neurosteroid receptors between control, D-Asp-IP, and D-Asp-Oral groups. However, IP treatment with D-Asp significantly reduced C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 and MMP-2 serum levels compared to control mice. Conclusion: IP injection of D-Asp had more beneficial effects on EAE severity, neurosteroid induction and reduction of inflammatory mediators than oral gavage.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca La Rosa ◽  
Chiara Paola Zoia ◽  
Chiara Bazzini ◽  
Alessandra Bolognini ◽  
Saresella Marina ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Aβ42-deposition plays a pivotal role in AD-pathogenesis by inducing the activation of microglial cells and neuroinflammation. This process is antagonized by microglia-mediated clearance of Aβ plaques. Activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome is involved in neuroinflammation and in the impairments of Aβ-plaques clearance. Stavudine (d4T) on the other hand down-regulates the NLRP3 inflammasome and stimulates autophagy-mediated Aβ-clearing in a TPH-1 cell line model. Methods We explored the effect of d4T on Aβ- autophagy using PBMC of AD patients that were primed with LPS and stimulated with Aβ in the absence/presence of d4T. We analyzed the NLRP3 inflammasome activity by measuring NLRP3-ASC complexes formation by AMNIS Flow-sight and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-18 and Caspase-1) production by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Western blot analyses were used to measure phosphorylation and protein expression of p38, CREB, ERK and AKT, p70, LAMP 2A, beclin-1 and Bax. Results data showed that d4T: 1) down regulates NLRP3 inflammasome activation and the production of down-stream proinflammatory cytokines even in PBMC; 2) stimulates the phosphorylation of AKT, ERK, p70 as well as LAMP2A production, but does modulate beclin-1, suggesting a selective effect of this compound on chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA); 3) up regulates p-CREB and BAX, possibly diminishing Aβ–mediated cytotoxicity; and 4) reduces the phosphorylation of p-38, a protein involved in the production of proinflammatory cytokines. Conclusions d4T reduces the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and stimulates CMA autophagy as well as molecular mechanisms that modulate cytotoxicity and reduce inflammation in cells of AD patients. It might be interesting to verify the possibly beneficial effects of d4T in the clinical scenario.


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