Abstract
Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most prevalent central nervous system (CNS) degenerative disease and characterized by slow and progressive loss of dopamine (DA) neurons in the midbrain substantia nigra. Microglia-mediated neuroinflammation has been considered as the major central event in the process of DA neuronal loss. Thus, inhibition of neuroinflammation could possess a more viable strategy for PD treatment. Naringenin (NAR), a natural flavanoid contained in citrus fruit and grapefruits, possesses amounts of pharmacological activities. Recent studies indicated that NAR produced neuroprotection against several neurological disorders. However, the mechanisms underlying NAR-generated neuroprotection are not fully illuminated.Methods: In the present study, rat nigral stereotaxic injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced DA neuronal loss was performed to investigate NAR-mediated neuroprotection. In addition, BV-2 and MN9D cell lines were applied to explore the underlying mechanisms.Results: NAR protected DA neurons against LPS-induced neurotoxicity. Also, NAR suppressed microglial nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome signaling activation and the subsequent pro-inflammatory factors release. In addition, NAR-mediated DA neuroprotection was dependent on the inhibition of microglial NLRP3 inflammasome activation, as evidenced by the observations that NAR-reduced pro-inflammatory factors production and further NAR-exerted DA neuroprotection against LPS-induced neuronal damage was not discerned after microglial NLRP3 siRNA treatment.Conclusions: This study demonstrated that NAR targeted microglial NLRP3 inflammasome to protect DA neurons against LPS-induced neurotoxicity. These findings suggest NAR might hold a promising therapeutic potential for PD.
Highlights
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most prevalent central nervous system (CNS) degenerative disease and characterized by slow and progressive loss of dopamine (DA) neurons in the midbrain substantia nigra
NARmediated DA neuroprotection was dependent on the inhibition of microglial nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation, as evidenced by the observations that NAR-reduced pro-inflammatory factors production and further NAR-exerted DA neuroprotection against LPS-induced neuronal damage was not discerned after microglial NLRP3 small interfering RNA (siRNA) treatment
This study demonstrated that NAR targeted microglial NLRP3 inflammasome to protect DA neurons against LPS-induced neurotoxicity
Summary
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most prevalent central nervous system (CNS) degenerative disease and characterized by slow and progressive loss of dopamine (DA) neurons in the midbrain substantia nigra. Microglia-mediated neuroinflammation has been considered as the major central event in the process of DA neuronal loss. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most prevalent central nervous system (CNS) degenerative disease It is characterized by slow and progressive loss of dopamine (DA) neurons in the midbrain substantia nigra (SN) with the accumulation of αsynuclein in Lewy bodies and neuritis [1]. The etiology of PD remains unclear, amounts of studies have suggested that neuroinflammation is recognized as the major central event in the process of DA neuronal cell death in PD [2]. Upon the introduction of stimuli, such as brain injury, inflammation and pathogens, microglia became activated and released a large number of neurotoxic factors, such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL18, and these factors would work in concert to trigger neurodegeneration [3]
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