EFFECT OF ELLAGIC ACID ON MICROGLIAL CULTURES EXPOSED TO LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDE
Palavras-chave:
Ellagic Acid, ; BV-2 Cells, Lipopolysaccharide, Neurodegenerative DiseasesResumo
INTRODUCTION: Neuroinflammation is a central nervous system(CNS) response to injury, characterized by the activation of glial cells and the releaseof inflammatory mediators. When exacerbated, it may cause significant neural damage and is closely linked to neurodegenerative diseases suchasAlzheimer's and multiple sclerosis. To mimic neuroinflammatory conditionsinvitro, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a component of Gram-negative bacterial membranes, is widely used due to its ability to trigger pro-inflammatory cytokineproduction and oxidative stress. Oxidative stress plays a critical roleintheprogression of neuroinflammation, making antioxidant and anti-inflammatorycompounds promising therapeutic candidates. Ellagic acid (EA), a polyphenol found in fruits and medicinal plants, has shown notable neuroprotectiveproperties. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of EAonmarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress in BV-2 microglial cells exposedtoLPS, assessing its potential to modulate inflammatory responses andredoximbalance in the CNS. METHODS: BV-2 cells were cultured and exposedtoLPS (1 μg/mL) for 6, 12, or 24 hours. Following LPS stimulation, cells weretreated with varying concentrations of EA (1, 10, 50, 100, and 500 μM). Cell
viability and proliferation were analyzed using the MTT assay. ATPhydrolysiswas measured as a marker of purinergic pathway activation, often associatedwith inflammation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: LPS exposure significantlyincreased ATP hydrolysis in BV-2 cells, indicating a robust inflammatoryresponse. Treatment with EA at all tested concentrations reduced this effect, suggesting a protective and anti-inflammatory role. These findings indicatethat EA may modulate microglial inflammatory responses and protect against excessive purinergic signaling, contributing to oxidative stress control. Overall, ellagic acid shows therapeutic potential for managing neurodegenerativeandchronic inflammatory conditions affecting the CNS.
