Apigenin exhibits anti-inflammatory effects in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglia through activating GSK3β/Nrf2 signaling pathway

Abstract

Objective: Apigenin is a natural flavonoid compound extracted from Matricaria chamomilla. We evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of apigenin in this study using the Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 microglia.

Methods: BV2 cells were treated with apigenin for 1 h and then treated with LPS. The inflammatory cytokine productions were tested by qRT-PCR and ELISA. The expression of GSK3β, Nrf2, and NF-κB signaling pathways were measured by western blot analysis.

Results: Apigenin significantly attenuated LPS-induced TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 production. Apigenin suppressed LPS-induced NF-κB activation. Furthermore, GSK3β, Nrf2, and HO-1 were concentration-dependently increased by apigenin. The suppression of apigenin on LPS-induced inflammatory response and NF-κB activation were prevented when Nrf2 was knocked out or by GSK3β inhibitor.

Conclusions: Collectively, apigenin suppressed LPS-induced microglia activation via activating GSK3β/Nrf2 signaling pathway.

Keywords:

• Apigenin
• LPS
• NF-κB
• HO-1
• inflammation

Ethical approval

The experimental protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Ningxia Medical University.

Author Contributions

Pengfei Chen and Jihui Tian conceptualized and designed the study; Pengfei Chen, Xianhao Huo, Wenqing Liu, Kai Li, and Zhipeng Sun did the experiment and analyzed the data; Pengfei Chen and Jihui Tian drafted the text and prepared the figures. Final approval of the version to be published: all authors.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.