Oxytocin Suppresses Inflammatory Responses Induced by Lipopolysaccharide through Inhibition of the eIF-2-ATF4 Pathway in Mouse Microglia.

ABSTRACT: Microglia maintain brain homeostasis and modulate neuroinflammation and are implicated in the pathogenesis of various neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. In this study, we found that in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated microglia, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related eIF-2?-ATF4 pathway plays significant roles in TNF-? and IL-6 production, as well as in the inflammasome-mediated production of IL-1?. Furthermore, our analysis revealed that oxytocin (OT), a nonapeptide synthesized in the hypothalamus, suppressed the production of these proinflammatory cytokines by inhibiting activation of the eIF-2?-ATF4 pathway. Our findings therefore suggest a novel anti-inflammatory axis of OT in activated microglia, which would be helpful for developing the novel effective strategies for regulating microglia-associated neuroinflammation.

SUBMITTER: Inoue T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6627458 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature