Active Fraction of Polyrhachis Vicina Roger (AFPR) Ameliorate Depression Induced Inflammation Response by FTO/miR-221-3p/SOCS1 Axis

Junhui He; Jiaxiu Xie; Guili Zhou; Chunlian Jia; Dongbo Han; Dongmei Li; Jie Wei; Yi Li; Renshan Huang; Chunlian Li; Bo Wang; Chao Wei; Qibiao Su; Kedao Lai; Guining Wei

doi:10.2147/JIR.S439912

Active Fraction of Polyrhachis Vicina Roger (AFPR) Ameliorate Depression Induced Inflammation Response by FTO/miR-221-3p/SOCS1 Axis

J Inflamm Res. 2023 Dec 23:16:6329-6348. doi: 10.2147/JIR.S439912. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Junhui He^#¹, Jiaxiu Xie^#¹, Guili Zhou^#², Chunlian Jia², Dongbo Han², Dongmei Li¹, Jie Wei¹, Yi Li¹, Renshan Huang¹, Chunlian Li¹, Bo Wang³, Chao Wei³, Qibiao Su⁴, Kedao Lai¹, Guining Wei¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pharmacology, Key Laboratory of Quality Standards, Guangxi Institute of Chinese Medicine & Pharmaceutical Science, Nanning, 530022, People's Republic of China.
² Department of Pharmacology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, People's Republic of China.
³ Guangxi Shuangyi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, People's Republic of China.
⁴ College of Health Science, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, People's Republic of China.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Purpose: Neuroinflammation is a significant etiological factor in the development of depression. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has demonstrated notable efficacy in the treatment of inflammation. Our previous study surfaces that the active fraction of Polyrhachis vicina Roger (AFPR) has antidepressant and anti-neuroinflammatory effects, but the specific mechanisms remain to be elucidated. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of AFPR on inflammation in depression via the FTO/miR-221-3p/SOCS1 axis.

Methods: Chronic unpredictable stress (CUMS)-induced rats and LPS-induced BV2 cells were employed to simulate depression models in vivo and in vitro. The levels of inflammatory factors were detected using the ELISA assay. The expression of genes and proteins was detected using qRT-PCR and Western blot. Gene interactions were detected using the dual luciferase reporter gene. Protein-RNA interactions were investigated using RNA methylation immunoprecipitation (MeRIP) and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP). Neuroinflammation in the brain was examined through H&E staining, while neuronal apoptosis was assessed using TUNEL staining.

Results: The results showed that AFPR ameliorated depression induced inflammation by increasing SOCS1 expression. However, SOCS1 was identified as a target of miR-221-3p. Overexpression of miR-221-3p decreased the expression of SOCS1 and increased the levels of NF-κB, IL-7, and IL-6. In addition, we found that miR-221-3p was regulated by FTO-mediated m6A modification through MeRIP and RIP experiments. Interference with miR-221-3p and overexpression of FTO resulted in increased SOCS1 gene expression and decreased levels of NF-κB, IL-7, and IL-6, which were reversed by AFPR.

Conclusion: AFPR inhibits the maturation of pri-miR-221-3p through FTO-mediated m6A modification, reduces the production of miR-221-3p, increases the expression of SOCS1, and reduces the level of inflammation, thereby improving depressive symptoms.

Keywords: FTO; Polyrhachis vicina Roger; SOCS1; depression; inflammation.

Grants and funding

This research was funded in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 81960729), Guangxi Traditional Chinese Medicine Key Discipline Construction Project (GZXK-Z-20–75).