Kai-Xin-San Protects Depression Mice Against CORT-Induced Neuronal Injury by Inhibiting Microglia Activation and Oxidative Stress

Guiqin Bai; Shangwen Jing; Huimin Cao; Yiqi Qiao; Gongchan Chen; Lining Duan; Yuna Yang; Min Li; Weirong Li; Xiang Chang; Cong Yang; Qi Wang

doi:10.1155/2022/5845800

Kai-Xin-San Protects Depression Mice Against CORT-Induced Neuronal Injury by Inhibiting Microglia Activation and Oxidative Stress

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2022 Oct 19:2022:5845800. doi: 10.1155/2022/5845800. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Guiqin Bai^{1

2}, Shangwen Jing¹, Huimin Cao¹, Yiqi Qiao¹, Gongchan Chen¹, Lining Duan^{1

3}, Yuna Yang¹, Min Li³, Weirong Li¹, Xiang Chang⁴, Cong Yang¹, Qi Wang¹

Affiliations

¹ Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
² Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan Province, China.
³ Clinical Medical College of Acupuncture Moxibustion and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
⁴ Xi'an Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China.

Abstract

Objective: Traditional Chinese medicine formula Kai-Xin-San (KXS) is used to treat psychiatric disorders, especially in anxiety and depression. However, the precise molecular mechanism of action remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the antidepressant effect of KXS on inhibiting inflammation and oxidative stress in corticosterone (CORT)-induced depression.

Methods: The therapeutic efficacy of KXS was evaluated in a mouse model of depression induced by CORT. Behavioral tests were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of KXS in treating depressive-like behavior. Nissl staining and β-galactosidase staining were used to assess the effects of KXS on neuronal injury in depressed mice. To screen key potential therapeutic targets of KXS, transcriptome sequences and data analysis were performed. Then, Iba1 immunofluorescence staining and their relative inflammatory factors mRNA expression were conducted to assess the effect of KXS in inhibiting microglial inflammation activation response. Concurrently, the measurement of 4-Hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) immunohistochemistry staining, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were performed to evaluate the effect of KXS on anti-oxidative stress of depression in vivo. Besides, nitric oxide (NO), relative inflammatory factors mRNA expression, JC-1 staining, and ROS were used to evaluate the effect of KXS by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/interferon-gamma (IFNγ)-induced BV2 cells.

Results: KXS significantly relieved the depressive-like symptoms induced by CORT, as well as ameliorating the neuronal damage, which decreased microglia inflammatory activation response of IL-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) in vivo or in vitro too. Transcriptome Sequencing and Data Analysis showed that KXS mainly by regulating immune system and transduction pathways decreased CORT-induced depression in mice. And showed that there were 19 Principal components and 10 genes in the main regulatory position with the strongest correlation in depression mice. Meanwhile, KXS effectively decreased senescence, the expression of 4-HNE, MDA content, and the production of ROS, while increasing the SOD activity in CORT-induced mice. Besides, KXS significantly reversed the mitochondrial membrane potential loss and excessive ROS production in LPS/IFNγ-induced BV2 cells.

Conclusion: Our research suggested that KXS might protect depressed mice against CORT-induced neuronal injury by inhibiting microglia activation and oxidative stress.