Triptolide, a Chinese herbal extract, protects dopaminergic neurons from inflammation-mediated damage through inhibition of microglial activation

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2003.10.054
• Publication Date: 2004-01-06T10:48:13Z
• Authors: Feng-Qiao Li; Xiu-Zhi Lu; Xi-Bin Liang; Hui-Fang Zhou; Bing Xue; Xian-Yu Liu; Dong-Bin Niu; Ji-Sheng Han; Xiao-Min Wang
• Keywords: Inflammation; Lipopolysaccharides; Male; 0301 basic medicine; Analysis of Variance; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Dopamine; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Cell Count; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Embryo, Mammalian; Immunohistochemistry; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; Mesencephalon; Animals; Epoxy Compounds; Drug Interactions; Female; Microglia; Diterpenes; Cells, Cultured; Drugs, Chinese Herbal

Mounting lines of evidence have suggested that brain inflammation participates in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. Triptolide is one of the major active components of Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F, which possesses potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties. We found that triptolide concentration-dependently attenuated the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced decrease in [3H]dopamine uptake and loss of tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive neurons in primary mesencephalic neuron/glia mixed culture. Triptolide also blocked LPS-induced activation of microglia and excessive production of TNFalpha and NO. Our data suggests that triptolide may protect dopaminergic neurons from LPS-induced injury and its efficiency in inhibiting microglia activation may underlie the mechanism.