scholarly journals Small molecule therapeutics for COVID-19: repurposing of inhaled furosemide

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e9533 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiyu Wang ◽  
Yanfei Wang ◽  
Prachi Vilekar ◽  
Seung-Pil Yang ◽  
Mayuri Gupta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Inflammatory Cytokines ◽  
Small Molecule ◽  
Inflammatory Activity ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Docking Simulations ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Anti Inflammatory ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Pro Inflammatory Cytokines

The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has become a global health concern. The morbidity and mortality of the potentially lethal infection caused by this virus arise from the initial viral infection and the subsequent host inflammatory response. The latter may lead to excessive release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-6 and IL-8, as well as TNF-α ultimately culminating in hypercytokinemia (“cytokine storm”). To address this immuno-inflammatory pathogenesis, multiple clinical trials have been proposed to evaluate anti-inflammatory biologic therapies targeting specific cytokines. However, despite the obvious clinical utility of such biologics, their specific applicability to COVID-19 has multiple drawbacks, including they target only one of the multiple cytokines involved in COVID-19’s immunopathy. Therefore, we set out to identify a small molecule with broad-spectrum anti-inflammatory mechanism of action targeting multiple cytokines of innate immunity. In this study, a library of small molecules endogenous to the human body was assembled, subjected to in silico molecular docking simulations and a focused in vitro screen to identify anti-pro-inflammatory activity via interleukin inhibition. This has enabled us to identify the loop diuretic furosemide as a candidate molecule. To pre-clinically evaluate furosemide as a putative COVID-19 therapeutic, we studied its anti-inflammatory activity on RAW264.7, THP-1 and SIM-A9 cell lines stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Upon treatment with furosemide, LPS-induced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines was reduced, indicating that furosemide suppresses the M1 polarization, including IL-6 and TNF-α release. In addition, we found that furosemide promotes the production of anti-inflammatory cytokine products (IL-1RA, arginase), indicating M2 polarization. Accordingly, we conclude that furosemide is a reasonably potent inhibitor of IL-6 and TNF-α that is also safe, inexpensive and well-studied. Our pre-clinical data suggest that it may be a candidate for repurposing as an inhaled therapy against COVID-19.

scholarly journals P0527AROLE OF PROMOTING INFLAMMATION OF KLF6 IN ACUTE KIDNEY INURY

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (Supplement_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Li ◽  
Chenyu Li ◽  
Yan Xu
Keyword(s):  
Inflammatory Cytokines ◽  
Inflammatory Cytokine ◽  
Ischemia Reperfusion ◽  
Kidney Injury ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Public Dataset ◽  
Anti Inflammatory ◽  
Anti Inflammatory Cytokine ◽  
Pro Inflammatory Cytokines

Abstract Background and Aims Acute kidney injury (AKI), commonly appeared in cardiac arrest, surgery and kidney transplantation which involved in ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury of kidney. However, the mechanisms underlying inflammatory response in IR AKI is still unclear. Method Public dataset showed kruppel-like factor 6 (KLF6) was significantly highly expressed (P<0.05) in AKI, implies KLF6 might be associated with AKI. To evaluate the mechanism of KLF6 on IR AKI, 30 rats were randomly divided into sham and IR group, and were sacrificed at 0 h, 3 h, 6 h, 12 h or 24 h after IR. Results The results showed KLF6 expression was peaking at 6 h after IR, and the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines MCP-1 and TNF-α were increased both in serum and kidney tissues after IR, while anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was decreased after IR. Furthermore, in vitro results showed KLF6 knock-down reduced the pro-inflammatory cytokines expression and increased the anti-inflammatory cytokines expression. Conclusion These results suggest that (1) KLF6 might be a novel biomarker for early diagnosis of AKI and (2) targeting KLF6 expression may offer novel strategies to protect kidneys from IR AKI Figure KLF6, AKI, Control Inflammation

scholarly journals Anti-inflammatory activity of a thermophilic serine protease inhibitor from extremophile Pyrobaculum neutrophilum

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 143-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rui Fei ◽  
Huan Zhang ◽  
Sheng Zhong ◽  
Baigong Xue ◽  
Yuanqi Gao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Serine Protease ◽  
Inflammatory Cytokines ◽  
Inflammatory Activity ◽  
Mouse Serum ◽  
Protease Inhibition ◽  
Mouse Ear ◽  
Anti Inflammatory ◽  
Pro Inflammatory Cytokines ◽  
Inflammatory Effect

Serine protease inhibitors (serpins) are a superfamily of proteins involved in many important biological processes, including inflammation. Serpins dysfunction-related diseases are mainly treated by augmentation therapy using serpins purified from human plasma. Pnserpin from hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrobaculum neutrophilum showed protease inhibition activity and high stability. In this study, we examined the anti-inflammatory activity of Pnserpin using xylene-induced acute inflammatory model of mouse ear swelling and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced murine RAW 264.7 macrophages cellular model. The inhibition of mouse ear swelling and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in mouse serum or in macrophages cell were used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of Pnserpin. Our results showed that Pnserpin could inhibit the xylene-induced mouse ear swelling and suppress the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in mouse serum and in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. This study indicated that Pnserpin might have anti-inflammatory effect in vivo and in vitro.

scholarly journals Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines at Ultra-Low Dose Exert Anti-Inflammatory Effect In Vitro: A Possible Mode of Action Involving Sub-Micron Particles?

Dose-Response ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 155932582096172
Author(s):  
Ilaria Floris ◽  
Thorsten Rose ◽  
Juan Antonio Collado Rojas ◽  
Kurt Appel ◽  
Camille Roesch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Inflammatory Cytokines ◽  
Mode Of Action ◽  
Inflammatory Diseases ◽  
Resistive Pulse ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Anti Inflammatory ◽  
Factor Α ◽  
Pro Inflammatory Cytokines ◽  
Inflammatory Effect

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) are pro-inflammatory cytokines involved in acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. Indeed, immunotherapy blocking these 2 cytokines has been developed. Micro-immunotherapy (MI) also uses ultra-low doses (ULD) of pro-inflammatory cytokines, impregnated on lactose-sucrose pillules, to counteract their overexpression. The study has been conducted with 2 objectives: examine the anti-inflammatory effect in vitro and the capacity of 2 unitary medicines, TNF-α (27 CH) and IL-1β (27 CH), to reduce the secretion of TNF-α in human primary monocytes and THP-1 cells differentiated with phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate, after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure; then, investigate the presence of particles possibly containing starting materials using tunable resistive pulse sensing technique. The results show that the unitary medicines, tested at 3 pillules concentrations (5.5, 11 and 22 mM), have reduced the secretion of TNF-α in both models by about 10−20% vs. vehicle control, depending on concentration. In this exploratory study, particles (150−1000 nm) have been detected in MI ULD-impregnated pillules and a hypothesis for MI medicines mode of action has been proposed. Conscious that more evaluations are necessary, authors are cautious in the conclusions because the findings described in the study are still limited, and future investigations may lead to different hypothesis.

scholarly journals Anemoside B4 protects against Klebsiella pneumoniae- and influenza virus FM1-induced pneumonia via the TLR4/Myd88 signaling pathway in mice

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jia He ◽  
Renyikun Yuan ◽  
Xiaolan Cui ◽  
Yushun Cui ◽  
Shan Han ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Molecular Docking ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Therapeutic Effect ◽  
Inflammatory Cytokines ◽  
Inflammatory Activity ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Anti Inflammatory ◽  
Myd88 Signaling ◽  
Pro Inflammatory Cytokines

Abstract Background: Pneumonia refers to the inflammation of the terminal airway, alveoli and pulmonary interstitium, which can be caused by pathogenic microorganisms, physical and chemical factors, immune damage, and drugs. Anemoside B4, the major ingredient of Pulsatilla chinensis (Bunge) Regel, exhibited anti-inflammatory activity. However, the therapeutic effect of anemoside B4 on pneumonia has not been unraveled. This study aims to investigate that anemoside B4 attenuates the inflammatory responses in Klebsiella pneumonia (KP)- and influenza virus FM1 (FM1)-induced pneumonia mice model.Methods: The network pharmacology and molecular docking assays were employed to predict the targets of anemoside B4’s treatment of pneumonia. Two models (bacterial KP-infected mice and virus FM1-infected mice) were employed in our study. BALB/c mice were divided into six groups: control, model group (KP- induced pneumonia or FM1-induced pneumonia), anemoside B4 (B4)-treated group (2.5, 5, 10 mg/kg), and positive drug group (Ribavirin or Ceftriaxone Sodium Injection). Blood samples were collected for hematology analysis. The effects of B4 on inflammation-associated mediators were investigated by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and hematoxylin and eosin staining (HE) staining. Proteins expression was quantified by western blotting.Results: The network results indicated that many pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) participated in anemoside B4’s anti-inflammatory activity. The counts of neutrophil (NEU) and white blood cell (WBC), the level of myeloperoxidase (MPO), and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 increased by KP or FM1 infection, which were reversed by anemoside B4. In addition, anemoside B4 significantly suppressed the FM1-induced expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), myeloid differential protein-88 (MyD88), and myeloid differentiation protein-2 (MD-2), which were further validated by molecular docking data that anemoside B4 bound to bioactive sites of TLR4. Therefore, anemoside B4 exhibited a significant therapeutic effect on pneumonia via the TLR4/MyD88 pathway.Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that anemoside B4 attenuates pneumonia via the TLR4/Myd88 signaling pathway, suggesting that anemoside B4 is a promising therapeutic candidate for bacterial-infected or viral-infected pneumonia.

scholarly journals Anti-inflammatory activity of methanolic extract of Ficus hispida dried fruit

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 997
Author(s):  
Asif Choudhury ◽  
Deepak Kumar Jha ◽  
U. Rajashekhar
Keyword(s):  
Inflammatory Cytokines ◽  
Methanolic Extract ◽  
Inflammatory Activity ◽  
Bioactive Metabolites ◽  
Paw Oedema ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Ficus Hispida ◽  
Anti Inflammatory ◽  
Pro Inflammatory Cytokines

Background: Natural products are a valuable resource of novel bioactive metabolites and these products exist in which the anti-inflammatory activity. The present investigation studies the in vivo and in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of methanolic extract of Ficus hispida in rat’s model.Methods: Plant material was extracted with methanol in a Soxhlet extraction apparatus. Indomethacin was used as a standard drug here, which is a known potent inhibitor of PG synthesis. The carrageenin and histamine induced paw oedema were selected to represent models of acute inflammations. The test compounds and standard drugs were administered orally. After 60 minutes paw oedema was induced by giving 0.1 ml of 1% Carrageenan and 0.1 % histamine by sub-plantar administration. Paw volume-Plethysmometer by mercury displacement method, before and after 1 hr to 4 hours of carrageenan and histamine administration. Performed MTT-based cytotoxicity assay of the Ficus hispida on the RAW264.7 cell line to determine the IC50 and calculate the pro-inflammatory cytokines viz, IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α and compared to the LPS control.Results: The result obtained from the in-vivo study shows that the Ficus hispida has significant anti- inflammatory activity in a dose dependent manner. This effect is similar to that produced by NSAIDS such as Indomethacin. The concentrations of IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α, secreted by the cells after challenging with bacterial LPS (2 µg/ml) and subsequent treatment with 50 µg Ficus hispida has been found to reduce the production of all the three pro-inflammatory cytokines viz, IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α as compared to the LPS control. The activity, in fact, is comparable to the standard NSAID Indomethacin.Conclusions: All these findings and phytoconstituents present in the extract could be the possible chemicals involved in the prevention of inflammations.

scholarly journals Anemoside B4 protects against Klebsiella pneumoniae- and influenza virus FM1-induced pneumonia via the TLR4/Myd88 signaling pathway in mice

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jia He ◽  
Renyikun Yuan ◽  
Xiaolan Cui ◽  
Yushun Cui ◽  
Shan Han ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Molecular Docking ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Therapeutic Effect ◽  
Inflammatory Cytokines ◽  
Inflammatory Activity ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Anti Inflammatory ◽  
Myd88 Signaling ◽  
Pro Inflammatory Cytokines

Abstract Background Pneumonia refers to the inflammation of the terminal airway, alveoli and pulmonary interstitium, which can be caused by pathogenic microorganisms, physical and chemical factors, immune damage, and drugs. Anemoside B4, the major ingredient of Pulsatilla chinensis (Bunge) Regel, exhibited anti-inflammatory activity. However, the therapeutic effect of anemoside B4 on pneumonia has not been unraveled. This study aims to investigate that anemoside B4 attenuates the inflammatory responses in Klebsiella pneumonia (KP)- and influenza virus FM1 (FM1)-induced pneumonia mice model.Methods The network pharmacology and molecular docking assays were employed to predict the targets of anemoside B4’s treatment of pneumonia. Two models (bacterial KP-infected mice and virus FM1-infected mice) were employed in our study. BALB/c mice were divided into six groups: control, model group (KP- induced pneumonia or FM1-induced pneumonia), anemoside B4 (B4)-treated group (2.5, 5, 10 mg/kg), and positive drug group (Ribavirin or Ceftriaxone Sodium Injection). Blood samples were collected for hematology analysis. The effects of B4 on inflammation-associated mediators were investigated by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Proteins expression was quantified by western blotting.Results The network results indicated that many pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) participated in anemoside B4’s anti-inflammatory activity. The counts of neutrophil (NEU) and white blood cell (WBC), the level of myeloperoxidase (MPO), and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 increased by KP or FM1 infection, which were reversed by anemoside B4. In addition, anemoside B4 significantly suppressed the FM1-induced expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), myeloid differential protein-88 (MyD88), and myeloid differentiation protein-2 (MD-2), which were further validated by molecular docking data that anemoside B4 bound to bioactive sites of TLR4. Therefore, anemoside B4 exhibited a significant therapeutic effect on pneumonia via the TLR4/MyD88 pathway.Conclusion Our findings demonstrated that anemoside B4 attenuates pneumonia via the TLR4/Myd88 signaling pathway, suggesting that anemoside B4 is a promising therapeutic candidate for bacterial-infected or viral-infected pneumonia.

Anti-inflammatory activity of emu oil-based nanofibrous scaffold through downregulation of IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α pro-inflammatory cytokines

2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vahid Vahedian ◽  
Amirhooman Asadi ◽  
Parisa Esmaeili ◽  
Shahbaz Zamani ◽  
Reza Zamani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Inflammatory Cytokines ◽  
The Body ◽  
Nanofibrous Scaffold ◽  
Inflammatory Activity ◽  
Fibroblast Cells ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Emu Oil ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Anti Inflammatory ◽  
Pro Inflammatory Cytokines

AbstractBackgroundInflammation is one of the most important responses of the body against infection or disease, and it protects tissues from injury; however, it causes redness, swelling, pain, fever and loss of function. The aim of this present study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of emu oil (Eu) formulated nanofibrous scaffold in HFFF2 fibroblast cells.Materials and methodsEu was formulated successfully in nanofibers through the electrospinning method. Besides, the morphological and structural properties of Eu nanofibres were evaluated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The MTT assay (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) was performed to evaluate the HFFF2 fibroblast cells’ viability. Also, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory signaling pathway in treated HFFF2 cells with Eu nanofiber.ResultsOur study showed that the Eu nanofiber increased the viability of fibroblast HFFF2 cells (p < 0.05). Also, the expression of interleukin1 (IL1), IL6 and tumor necrosis factor- alpha (TNF-α) pro-inflammatory cytokines genes were significantly decreased in treated HFFF2 cells with Eu nanofiber (p < 0.05).ConclusionsIn conclusion, Eu nanofiber scaffold potentially can reduce the inflammation process through downregulation of IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α cytokines.

scholarly journals Dental Follicle Stem Cells Ameliorate Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammation by Secreting TGF-β3 and TSP-1 to Elicit Macrophage M2 Polarization

2018 ◽  
Vol 51 (5) ◽  
pp. 2290-2308 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaochuan Chen ◽  
Bo Yang ◽  
Jun Tian ◽  
Hong Hong ◽  
Yu Du ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Inflammatory Cytokines ◽  
Inflammatory Cytokine ◽  
Paracrine Factors ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Anti Inflammatory ◽  
Follicle Stem Cells ◽  
Anti Inflammatory Cytokine ◽  
Pro Inflammatory Cytokines

Background/Aims: Increasing evidence has demonstrated the novel roles of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in immunotherapy. However, difficulty in acquiring these cells and possible ethical issues limited their application. Recently, we have isolated a unique MSC population from dental follicles with potent stem cell-like properties. This study focused on the effects of dental follicle stem cells (DFSCs) on macrophage activation and polarization to determine their role in immunomodulation and to test if DFSCs are a promising cell source for MSC-based immunotherapy. Methods: Rat acute lung injury (ALI) models induced by Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were applied to test the immune-modulatory effects of DFSC/DFSC-CM in vivo. The pulmonary permeability was determined by the dry / wet weight ratios of the left upper lung lobe. The lung histopathological damage was graded on a 0 to 4+ scale. And the inflammatory cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were tested by ELISA. Then we established LPS-induced inflamed macrophage models in vitro. Inflammatory cytokine production and polarization marker expression were measured by RT-qPCR, ELISA, western blot and flow cytometric analysis in macrophages following DFSC-CM treatment. The paracrine factors in DFSC-CM were revealed by a RayBiotech Protein Array. Thereafter, neutralization studies were performed to confirm the potential immune regulators in DFSC-CM. Results: The DFSC/DFSC-CM not only attenuated histopathological damage and pulmonary permeability, but also downregulated pro-inflammatory cytokines MCP-1, IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α, and upregulated anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in BALF. Immunofluorescence staining revealed the increased expression of macrophage M2 marker Arg-1. Further in vitro study revealed that macrophages switched to an anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype when co-cultured with DFSC-CM, characterized by suppressed production of pro-inflammatory cytokines MCP-1, IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α and M1-polarizing markers iNOS and CD86; and increased expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and the M2-polarizing markers Arg-1 and CD163. A RayBiotech Protein Array revealed 42 differentially expressed (> 2-fold) paracrine factors in DFSC-CM compared with the serum-free Ham’s F-12K medium, among which TGF-β3 and Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) were upregulated by 18- and 105-fold, respectively. Neutralization studies confirmed the immunoregulatory roles of TGF-β3 and TSP-1 in macrophage activation and polarization. Conclusion: These results indicated that DFSCs can reprogram macrophages into the anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype, the paracrine factors TGF-β3 and TSP-1 may be one of the underlying mechanisms. This study supports the hypothesis that DFSCs are promising for MSC-based immunotherapy.

AAnti-Inflammatory Effects of Plasma Circulating Exosomes Obtained from Normal-Weight and Obese Subjects on Hepatocytes

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reza Afrisham ◽  
Sahar Sadegh-Nejadi ◽  
Reza Meshkani ◽  
Solaleh Emamgholipour ◽  
Molood Bagherieh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Inflammatory Cytokines ◽  
Hepg2 Cells ◽  
Human Liver ◽  
Liver Cells ◽  
Normal Weight ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Human Liver Cells ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Anti Inflammatory

Introduction: Obesity is a disorder with low-grade chronic inflammation that plays a key role in the hepatic inflammation and steatosis. Moreover, there are studies to support the role of exosomes in the cellular communications, the regulation of metabolic homeostasis and immunomodulatory activity. Accordingly, we aimed to evaluate the influence of plasma circulating exosomes derived from females with normal-weight and obesity on the secretion of inflammatory cytokines in human liver cells. Methods: Plasma circulating exosomes were isolated from four normal (N-Exo) and four obese (O-Exo) women. The exosomes were characterized and approved for CD63 expression (common exosomal protein marker) and morphology/size using the western blot and TEM methods, respectively. The exosomes were used for stimulation of HepG2 cells in vitro. After 24 h incubation, the protein levels of TNF-α,IL-6, and IL-1β were measured in the culture supernatant of HepG2 cells using the ELISA kit. Results: The protein levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in the cells treated with O-Exo and N-Exo reduced significantly in comparison with control group (P=0.039 and P<0.001 respectively), while significance differences were not found between normal and obese groups (P=0.808, and P=0.978 respectively). However, no significant differences were found between three groups in term of IL-1β levels (P=0.069). Based on the correlation analysis, the protein levels of IL-6 were positively correlated with TNF-α (r 0.978, P<0.001). Conclusion: These findings suggest that plasma circulating exosomes have probably anti-inflammatory properties independently from body mass index and may decrease the secretion of inflammatory cytokines in liver. However, further investigations in vitro and in vivo are needed to address the anti-inflammatory function of N-Exo and O-Exo in human liver cells and/or other cells.

Methylmercury-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines activation and its preventive strategy using anti-inflammation N-acetyl-l-cysteine: a mini-review

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 233-238
Author(s):  
Muflihatul Muniroh
Keyword(s):  
Inflammatory Cytokines ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Brain Cells ◽  
Preventive Strategy ◽  
Hearing Impairments ◽  
Sensory Disturbances ◽  
Anti Inflammation ◽  
Pro Inflammatory Cytokines

AbstractThe exposure of methylmercury (MeHg) has become a public health concern because of its neurotoxic effect. Various neurological symptoms were detected in Minamata disease patients, who got intoxicated by MeHg, including paresthesia, ataxia, gait disturbance, sensory disturbances, tremors, visual, and hearing impairments, indicating that MeHg could pass the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and cause impairment of neurons and other brain cells. Previous studies have reported some expected mechanisms of MeHg-induced neurotoxicity including the neuroinflammation pathway. It was characterized by the up-regulation of numerous pro-inflammatory cytokines expression. Therefore, the use of anti-inflammatories such as N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) may act as a preventive compound to protect the brain from MeHg harmful effects. This mini-review will explain detailed information on MeHg-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines activation as well as possible preventive strategies using anti-inflammation NAC to protect brain cells, particularly in in vivo and in vitro studies.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document