7,8-Dihydroxyflavone attenuates the release of pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated BV2 microglial cells through the suppression of the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways

Int J Mol Med. 2014 Apr;33(4):1027-34. doi: 10.3892/ijmm.2014.1652. Epub 2014 Feb 10.

Abstract

7,8-Dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF), a member of the flavonoid family, has received considerable attention as a selective tyrosine kinase receptor B agonist. However, the pharmacological mechanisms responsible for its anti-inflammatory activities in microglial cells have yet to be elucidated. In this study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of this compound on the production of inflammatory mediators and cytokines in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated murine BV2 microglial cells. At non-toxic concentrations, 7,8-DHF attenuated the production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), by inhibiting inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression, respectively. Furthermore, the release and expression of inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), were inhibited by 7,8-DHF. In addition, 7,8-DHF suppressed nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) translocation and its transcriptional activity by blocking IκB (IκB)-α degradation; in addition, it exerted suppressive effects on the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). These results indicate that 7,8-DHF possesses therapeutic potential against neurodegenerative diseases that involve microglial activation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / metabolism
  • Cytokines / metabolism*
  • Dinoprostone / biosynthesis
  • Enzyme Activation / drug effects
  • Flavones / pharmacology*
  • Inflammation Mediators / metabolism*
  • Interleukin-1beta / metabolism
  • Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology*
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / drug effects*
  • Mice
  • Microglia / drug effects
  • Microglia / enzymology
  • Microglia / metabolism*
  • Microglia / pathology
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism*
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism

Substances

  • 6,7-dihydroxyflavone
  • Cytokines
  • Flavones
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • Interleukin-1beta
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • NF-kappa B
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
  • Ptgs2 protein, mouse
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Dinoprostone