2013 Volume 122 Issue 4 Pages 305-317
An accumulating body of evidence suggests that Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is associated with microglia-mediated neuroinflammation and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression. Therefore, the suppression of neuroinflammation and pro-inflammatory cytokine might theoretically slow down the progression of AD. Xanthoceraside, a novel triterpenoid saponin extracted from the husks of Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge, has potent antiinflammatory and neuroprotective effects. However, the molecular mechanism underlying its anti-inflammatory action remains unclear. In the present study, we attempted to determine the effects of xanthoceraside on the production of pro-inflammatory mediators in amyloid β25–35 (Aβ25–35) / interferon-γ (IFN-γ)-stimulated microglia. Our results indicated that xanthoceraside (0.01 and 0.1 μM) significantly inhibited the release of nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α in a concentration-dependent manner. Reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction and western blotting analyses showed that xanthoceraside decreased the Aβ25–35/IFN-γ–induced production of cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible NO synthase. These effects were accompanied by inhibited activities of nuclear factor-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase through Toll-like receptor 2 in a myeloid differentiation protein 88–dependent manner. Our results provide support for the therapeutic potential of xanthoceraside in AD.