Anti-Inflammatory and Neuroprotective Role of Natural Product Securinine in Activated Glial Cells: Implications for Parkinson's Disease

Mediators Inflamm. 2017:2017:8302636. doi: 10.1155/2017/8302636. Epub 2017 Apr 4.

Abstract

Glial activation and subsequent release of neurotoxic proinflammatory factors are believed to play an important role in the pathogenesis of several neurological disorders including Parkinson's disease (PD). Inhibition of glial activation and inflammatory processes may represent a therapeutic target to alleviate neurodegeneration. Securinine, a major natural alkaloid product from the root of the plant Securinega suffruticosa, has been reported to have potent biological activity and is used in the treatment of neurological conditions such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, poliomyelitis, and multiple sclerosis. In this study, we explored the underlying mechanisms of neuroprotection elicited by securinine, particularly its anti-inflammatory effects in glial cells. Our results demonstrate that securinine significantly and dose-dependently suppressed the nitric oxide production in microglia and astrocytic cultures. In addition, securinine inhibited the activation of the inflammatory mediator NF-κB, as well as mitogen-activated protein kinases in lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) stimulated BV2 cells. Additionally, securinine also inhibited interferon-γ- (IFN-γ-) induced nitric oxide levels and iNOS mRNA expression. Furthermore, conditioned media (CM) from securinine pretreated BV2 cells significantly reduced mesencephalic dopaminergic neurotoxicity compared with CM from LPS stimulated microglia. These findings suggest that securinine may be a potential candidate for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases related to neuroinflammation.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
  • Astrocytes / drug effects
  • Azepines / therapeutic use*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, Bridged-Ring / therapeutic use*
  • Interferon-Stimulated Gene Factor 3 / metabolism
  • Lactones / therapeutic use*
  • Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology
  • Mice
  • Microglia / drug effects
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Neuroprotective Agents / therapeutic use
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / metabolism
  • Nitrites / metabolism
  • Parkinson Disease / drug therapy*
  • Parkinson Disease / immunology
  • Parkinson Disease / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Piperidines / therapeutic use*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Azepines
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, Bridged-Ring
  • Interferon-Stimulated Gene Factor 3
  • Lactones
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • NF-kappa B
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Nitrites
  • Piperidines
  • gamma interferon activation factor
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • securinine