- 1a Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology , Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg , Sweden.
- 2b Department of Physiology , Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg , Sweden.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES:
This
study concerns: (1) the long-term effects of peripheral
lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in neonatal rats on inflammation and
antioxidant parameters in brain and (2) the effects of a Spirulina-enriched
diet given to lactating mothers on protective and inflammatory
parameters in brains of suckling pups subjected to peripheral
inflammation.
METHODS:
Five-day
old rat pups were treated with LPS (i.p. 2 mg/kg). After 3, 7, 30, and
65 days, mRNA, miRNA, and protein levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines
and the Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-system were examined.
In a sub-group, a Spirulina-enriched
diet was given to the mothers 24 hours before the pups were treated
with LPS, then the effects on antioxidant and inflammatory parameters
were evaluated.
RESULTS:
The
main findings were: (1) interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) was upregulated in
cortex 3, 7, and 30 days after LPS treatment, (2) Nrf2 and the catalytic
subunit of γ-glutamylcysteinyl ligase were decreased in cortex 7 days
after LPS in parallel with increased levels of phosphorylated p38 and
decreased levels of histone H3 acetylation, and (3) a Spirulina-enriched
diet to lactating mothers normalized both the increased IL-1β
expression and the decreased antioxidant parameters after LPS. The
protective effects of Spirulina were correlated with decreased levels of phosphorylated p38 and high levels of the antioxidant miRNA-146a.
DISCUSSION:
A Spirulina
diet given to lactating mothers can protect against neuroinflammation
and decreased antioxidant defence in brain of suckling pups subjected to
peripheral inflammation, possibly via decreased activation of p38 and
high levels of the antioxidant miRNA-146a.
KEYWORDS:
Antioxidant system; Neuroinflammation; Nrf2; Spirulina; miRNA
