Study on antrodia camphorata polysaccharide in alleviating the neuroethology of PD mice by decreasing the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease, and the role of neuroinflammation in the pathogenesis and progression of PD has been confirmed. The polysaccharides and triterpenoids of antrodia camphorata (a polyporous fungus) harbor diverse and powerful pharmacological effects. In this study, 6-hydroxydopamine was used to construct a PD mouse model. After antrodia camphorata polysaccharide (ACP) intervention, neurobehavioral changes were detected, neurotransmitter changes in striatum were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography, the alterations of striatal NOD-like receptor pyrin domain containing three (NLRP3) were examined by immunohistochemistry, and the expression of NLRP3, IL-1β, Caspase-1, and proCaspase-1 were detected by western blot. To be specific, the items of neurobehavioral test included open field activity, rotary test, pole test, gait analysis, and swimming test. As a result, 6-hydroxydopamine could lead to PD-like lesions, including tremor, stiffness, attenuated spontaneous activity, and bradykinesia in mice, and the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase in the striatum was decreased. After ACP intervention, the neuroethology of mice was significantly improved, as demonstrated by the elevated levels of dopamine in the striatum and the decreased expression of dopamine in the striatum in NLRP3 inflammasome. NLRP3 inflammasome played an important role in neuroinflammation in PD mice. ACP could reduce the activation of NLRP3 and expression of related inflammatory factors.