Pterostilbene inhibits amyloid‐β‐induced neuroinflammation in a microglia cell line by inactivating the NLRP3/caspase‐1 inflammasome pathway

Abstract

Abstract Neuroinflammation has been known as an important pathogenetic contributor of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Pterostilbene is a natural compound which has neuroprotective activity. However, the effect of pterostilbene on amyloid‐β (Aβ)‐induced neuroinflammation has not been clarified. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of pterostilbene on Aβ‐induced neuroinflammation in microglia. The results indicated that pterostilbene attenuated Aβ 1−42 ‐induced cytotoxicity of BV‐2 cells. Aβ 1−42 induced NO production and iNOS mRNA and protein expression, while pterostilbene inhibited the induction. The expression and secretion levels of IL‐6, IL‐1β, and TNF‐α were enhanced by Aβ 1−42 treatment, whereas pterostilbene decreased them. Aβ 1−42 activated NLRP3/caspase‐1 inflammasome, which was inactivated by pterostilbene. In addition, the inhibitor of caspase‐1 Z‐YVAD‐FMK attenuated the Aβ 1−42 ‐induced neuroinflammation in BV‐2 cells. In conclusion, pterostilbene attenuated the neuroinflammatory response induced by Aβ 1−42 in microglia through inhibiting the NLRP3/caspase‐1 inflammasome pathway, indicating that pterostilbene might be an effective therapy for AD.