The Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Neuroprotective Properties of the Synthetic Chalcone Derivative AN07

Molecules. 2020 Jun 24;25(12):2907. doi: 10.3390/molecules25122907.

Abstract

Chalcones belong to a class of biologically active polyphenolic natural products. As a result of their simple chemical nature, they are easily synthesized and show a variety of promising biological activities. 2-Hydroxy-4'-methoxychalcone (AN07) is a synthetic chalcone derivate with potential anti-atherosclerosis effects. In this study, we demonstrated the novel antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects of AN07. In RAW 264.7 macrophages, AN07 attenuated lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced elevations in reactive oxygen species (ROS) level and oxidative stress via down-regulating gp91phox expression and stimulating the antioxidant system of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) pathways, which were accompanied by increased glutathione (GSH) levels. Additionally, AN07 attenuated LPS-induced inflammatory factors, including NO, inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and phosphorylated inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B-alpha (p-IκBα) in RAW 264.7 macrophages. However, the effects of AN07 on promoting nuclear Nrf2 levels and decreasing COX-2 expressions were significantly abrogated by the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) antagonist GW9662. In human dopaminergic SH-SY5Y cells treated with or without methylglyoxal (MG), a toxic endogenous by-product of glycolysis, AN07 up-regulated neurotrophic signals including insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R), p-Akt, p-GSK3β, glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). AN07 attenuated MG-induced apoptosis by up-regulating the B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) protein and down-regulating the cytosolic expression of cytochrome c. AN07 also attenuated MG-induced neurite damage via down-regulating the Rho-associated protein kinase 2 (ROCK2)/phosphorylated LIM kinase 1 (p-LIMK1) pathway. Moreover, AN07 ameliorated the MG-induced down-regulation of neuroprotective Parkinsonism-associated proteins parkin, pink1, and DJ-1. These findings suggest that AN07 possesses the potentials to be an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective agent.

Keywords: chalcone; inflammation; lipopolysaccharide; methylglyoxal; neuroprotection; oxidative stress.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / pharmacology*
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Chalcones / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / chemically induced
  • Inflammation / drug therapy
  • Lim Kinases / metabolism
  • Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology
  • Mice
  • Nerve Growth Factors / metabolism
  • Neurites / drug effects
  • Neuroprostanes / pharmacology*
  • Pyruvaldehyde / toxicity
  • RAW 264.7 Cells
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism
  • rho-Associated Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Antioxidants
  • Chalcones
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Nerve Growth Factors
  • Neuroprostanes
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • 2'-hydroxy-4-methoxychalcone
  • Pyruvaldehyde
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • parkin protein
  • LIMK1 protein, human
  • Lim Kinases
  • ROCK2 protein, human
  • rho-Associated Kinases