LPS induces mediators of neuroinflammation, cell proliferation, and GFAP expression in human astrocytoma cells U373MG: the anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative effect of guggulipid.

Neuroinflammation has been considered to be an integrated part of human neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we examined the effect of guggulipid on cell proliferation, nitrite release, interleukin IL-6 and IL-1 beta release, and expression of COX-2 and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in LPS-stimulated U373MG cells. LPS significantly stimulated human astrocytoma cells U373MG by up-regulating these neuroinflammatory mediators. Guggulipid alone had no effect on the cell proliferation of U373MG cells. The up regulation in nitrite release, cell proliferation, and release of IL-6 and IL-1 beta in LPS stimulated human astrocytoma cells were dose-dependently inhibited by co-treatment with guggulipid. The expression level of COX-2 and GFAP proteins was up regulated by LPS but the increased level of COX-2 and GFAP was significantly down regulated by treatment with guggulipid. These data indicate that guggulipid has a modulatory effect on all these parameters, which might explain its beneficial effect in the treatment of neuroinflammation-associated disorders directly relating to human aspects.