BLUEBERRY INHIBITS LPS-INDUCED MURINE MICROGLIA CELL ACTIVATION AND CELL DEATH

Abstract

Microglia activation plays a pivotal role in varying stress conditions including oxidation, inflammation and certain neurodegenerative diseases. iNOS and PrxI are known to up regulate in LPS-activated microglia in vitro. Natural fruits including various berries containing both antioxidants and anti-inflammatory polyphenols may attenuate such stress conditions. We investigated the effects of blueberry extracts (BBE) on the LPS-activated stress related genes up regulation using BV-2 microglia cells in vitro. BV-2 cells were cultured in DMEM with 10% FBS, were pre-incubated with 50 µg/ml BBE for 0, 1 h and 12 h, and treated with 1µg/ml LPS for 24 h . The levels of mRNA and protein expression showed significant differences in iNOS and PrxI among the treatment groups. Hoechst and PI staining showed that BBE protects cells from activation induced death. Intracellular levels of ROS were increased by LPS stimulation over the level in the control cells whereas BBE treatment significantly lowered the LPS stimulated ROS levels at a time dependent manner. High expressions of iNOS and PrxI are indication of microglia activation and treatment with BBE in LPS-activated BV-2 cells cause down regulation of stress-related genes expression and protect the cells from over activation and death.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjvm.v10i1-2.15651