Yoshihiko Nakatani1, Manami Yaguchi2, Kazuki Ogino2, Risako Noguchi2, Naoki Yamamoto2,3,4, Taku Amano5. 1. Department of Pharmacotherapeutics, School of Pharmacy, International University of Health and Welfare, 2600-1 Kitakanemaru, Ohtawara, Tochigi, 324-8501, Japan. ynakatani@iuhw.ac.jp. 2. Department of Pharmacotherapeutics, School of Pharmacy, International University of Health and Welfare, 2600-1 Kitakanemaru, Ohtawara, Tochigi, 324-8501, Japan. 3. Center for Basic Medical Research, International University of Health and Welfare, 2600-1 Kitakanemaru, Ohtawara, Tochigi, 324-8501, Japan. 4. Laboratory of Neurobiology, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1-1 Minami-Osawa, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo, 192-0397, Japan. 5. Tochigi Prefectural Okamotodai Hospital, 2162 Shimookamotomachi, Utsunomiya, Tochigi, 329-1104, Japan.
Abstract
RATIONALE: It is known that both selective serotonin and serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SSRI, SNRI) are first-line drugs for the treatment of major depressive disorder. It has also been considered that both SSRI and SNRI can improve the symptoms of major depressive disorder by increasing the concentration of monoamine in the synaptic cleft based on the monoamine hypothesis. However, accumulating evidence has indicated that inflammation in the brain may be a key factor in the pathophysiological mechanisms that underlie the development of major depressive disorder. OBJECTIVES: It has been advocated that microglial cells may regulate the inflammatory response under pathological conditions such as major depressive disorder. In this study, we focused on whether duloxetine can ameliorate the inflammatory response induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in BV-2 microglial cells. RESULTS: Our results indicated that duloxetine significantly decreased the NO production induced by LPS. The increase in the protein expression level of iNOS induced by LPS was significantly decreased by treatment with duloxetine. Moreover, the increases in the protein expression levels of phosphorylated-IκBα, phosphorylated-Akt and Akt induced by LPS were also significantly decreased. Unexpectedly, the protein expression levels of other pro-inflammatory factors such as COX-2 and the phosphorylation ratios for various molecules including IκBα and Akt were not changed by treatment with duloxetine. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that duloxetine may have an anti-inflammatory effect, which could contribute to its therapeutic effectiveness for major depressive disorder.
RATIONALE: It is known that both selective serotonin and serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SSRI, SNRI) are first-line drugs for the treatment of major depressive disorder. It has also been considered that both SSRI and SNRI can improve the symptoms of major depressive disorder by increasing the concentration of monoamine in the synaptic cleft based on the monoamine hypothesis. However, accumulating evidence has indicated that inflammation in the brain may be a key factor in the pathophysiological mechanisms that underlie the development of major depressive disorder. OBJECTIVES: It has been advocated that microglial cells may regulate the inflammatory response under pathological conditions such as major depressive disorder. In this study, we focused on whether duloxetine can ameliorate the inflammatory response induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in BV-2 microglial cells. RESULTS: Our results indicated that duloxetine significantly decreased the NO production induced by LPS. The increase in the protein expression level of iNOS induced by LPS was significantly decreased by treatment with duloxetine. Moreover, the increases in the protein expression levels of phosphorylated-IκBα, phosphorylated-Akt and Akt induced by LPS were also significantly decreased. Unexpectedly, the protein expression levels of other pro-inflammatory factors such as COX-2 and the phosphorylation ratios for various molecules including IκBα and Akt were not changed by treatment with duloxetine. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that duloxetine may have an anti-inflammatory effect, which could contribute to its therapeutic effectiveness for major depressive disorder.
Authors: Johann Steiner; Martin Walter; Tomasz Gos; Gilles J Guillemin; Hans-Gert Bernstein; Zoltán Sarnyai; Christian Mawrin; Ralf Brisch; Hendrik Bielau; Louise Meyer zu Schwabedissen; Bernhard Bogerts; Aye-Mu Myint Journal: J Neuroinflammation Date: 2011-08-10 Impact factor: 8.322