鼠曲草提取物对COPD模型大鼠气道炎症的抑制作用及对NF-κB通路的影响

目的:研究鼠曲草提取物对慢性阻塞性肺疾病(chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,COPD)模型大鼠气道炎症的影响及作用机制。方法:大鼠随机分为正常组,模型组,鼠曲草提取物低、中、高剂量组(0.75,1.5,3g·kg^-1)和地塞米松组(阳性对照药,27mg·kg^-1),每组9只。除正常组外,其余各组大鼠采用香烟烟熏联合气管内滴注脂多糖建立COPD大鼠模型。造模15d后,各给药组大鼠灌胃相应药物,正常组和模型组大鼠灌胃等体积0.9%氯化钠溶液,每日1次,连续14d。末次给药后,检测各组大鼠肺功能;HE染色观察肺组织病理学变化;酶联免疫法检测肺泡灌洗液、血清中IL-6、IL-8、IL-17、IL-1β、TNF-α、TGF-β含量;RT-PCR法检测右肺组织中NF-κB mRNA的相对表达量;Western blot法检测右肺组织中NF-κB、IKKβ、IκBα及其p-IκBα蛋白的相对表达量。结果:不同剂量的鼠曲草提取物干预后,均可显著提高大鼠肺功能参数FEV0.3、FVC、FEV0.3/FVC,明显降低肺泡灌洗液中IL-8、IL-17、TNF-α及血清中IL-1β、IL-6、IL-8、IL-17、TNF-α、TGF-β含量,改善大鼠肺组织病理变化,同时显著降低p-IκB、IKK蛋白及NF-κB mRNA和蛋白相对表达量。结论:鼠曲草能够改善COPD模型大鼠的肺功能,减轻肺组织病理损伤,抑制炎症反应,其作用可能与抑制NF-κB信号通路有关。     

木犀草素对脂多糖诱导下小鼠急性肺损伤的保护作用及其机制研究

目的探讨木犀草素(luteolin)对脂多糖(1ipopolysaccharid,LPS)诱导的小鼠急性肺损伤的保护作用,以及可能的作用机制。方法 96只小鼠随机分为正常组、模型组、木犀草素低剂量组、木犀草素中剂量组、木犀草素高剂量组及地塞米松组,每组8只。以小鼠气道穿刺滴入LPS制备小鼠ALI模型,呼吸机检测气道吸气阻力(Ri)、气道呼气阻力(Re)和动态肺顺应性(Cdyn)的变化,ELISA法测定肺泡灌洗液(BALF)中IL-1β、IL-6和TNF-α的浓度,制作HE病理切片以及Western blot法检测肺组织中NF-κB p65、IκB-α和PIκB-α的表达情况。结果木犀草素能明显抑制Ri、Re增长和Cdyn降低,抑制BALF中IL-1β、IL-6、TNF-α的释放(P<0.05),减轻了肺部病变,抑制了NF-κB p65和PIκB-α的活化。结论木犀草素对LPS诱导的小鼠急性肺损伤具有保护作用,其作用机制与抑制NF-κB信号传导通路表达有关。     

熵权法结合星点设计-效应面法优化祛湿清肺方提取工艺及体外抗炎活性评价

目的:优化祛湿清肺方提取工艺,并对祛湿清肺方提取液进行体外抗炎活性评价。方法:以绿原酸、虎杖苷、黄芩苷、汉黄芩苷、黄芩素、芦荟大黄素、汉黄芩素、大黄素成分含量及得膏率为指标,加水量及提取时间为考察因素,采用熵权法结合星点设计-效应面法对祛湿清肺方提取工艺进行优化。以脂多糖(LPS)诱导大鼠腹腔巨噬细胞(RAW_264.7)为炎症模型,酶联免疫吸附法测定白细胞介素-6(interleukin-6,IL-6)、白细胞介素-1β(interleukin-1β,IL-1β)、肿瘤坏死因子-α(tumor necrosis factor-α,TNF-α)、一氧化氮(NO)的含量,蛋白质印迹法检测磷酸化NF-κB抑制蛋白激酶(phosphorylated inhibitor of NF-κB kinase,p-IKK)、磷酸化NF-κB p65(phosphorylated NF-κB p65,p-NF-κB p65)、NF-κB抑制蛋白α(inhibitor of NF-κBα,IκBα)蛋白表达水平变化,评价祛湿清肺方提取液抗炎活性。结果:星点设计-效应面法优化所得的最佳提取工艺为加水量13倍,提取2次,每次提取时间105 min。祛湿清肺方提取液能降低IL-6、IL-1β、TNF-α、NO的含量,抑制p-IKK、p-NF-κB p65蛋白表达,促进IκBα蛋白表达,具有较好的体外抗炎活性。结论:熵权法结合星点设计-效应面法优选的祛湿清肺方提取工艺稳定可行,所得提取液具有较好的抗炎活性,为祛湿清肺方开发和现代化研究提供参考奠定基础。     

姜黄素对亚急性肝内胆汁淤积大鼠肠内菌群变化的影响及其机制研究

目的： 研究姜黄素对亚急性肝内胆汁淤积（intrahepatic cholestasis,IHC）大鼠肠内菌群变化的影响,并分析相关机制。方法： 38只IHC大鼠随机分为模型组（9只）、姜黄素低剂量组（9只）、姜黄素高剂量组（10只）、阳性药物组（10只）,9只健康大鼠设置为对照组。姜黄素低、高剂量组姜黄素200、400 mg·kg^-1灌胃;阳性药物组熊去氧胆酸60 mg·kg^-1灌胃;对照组与疾病组等量生理盐水灌胃。均为每天一次;干预14 d。检测肝功能指标、胆红素代谢指标、炎症指标;qRT-PCR反应定量检测肠内菌群;Western blot检测肝组织核转录因子-κB（NF-κB）p65、p-NF-κB p65、核因子抑制蛋白（IκBα）、p-IκBα蛋白相对表达量。结果： 与疾病组比较,姜黄素低、高剂量组、阳性药物组碱性磷酸酶（ALP）、丙氨酸氨基转移酶（ALT）、谷草转氨酶（AST）、γ-谷氨酰转肽酶（GGT）、总胆红素（TBIL）、直接胆红素（DBIL）、总胆汁酸（TBA）、白介素-1β（IL-1β）、白介素-6（IL-6）、转化生长因子-β₁（TGF-β₁）均降低,白介素-10（IL-10）均升高,乳酸杆菌、双歧杆菌均增加,大肠杆菌均减少（P<0.05）;与姜黄素低剂量组比较,姜黄素高剂量组、阳性药物组ALP、ALT、AST、GGT、TBIL、DBIL、TBA、IL-1β、IL-6、TGF-β₁均降低,IL-10均升高,乳酸杆菌、双歧杆菌均增加,大肠杆菌均减少（P<0.05）。与疾病组比较,姜黄素低、高剂量组、阳性药物组p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65,p-IκBα/IκBα均降低（P<0.05）;与姜黄素低剂量组比较,姜黄素高剂量组、阳性药物组p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65,p-IκBα/IκBα均降低（P<0.05）。结论： 姜黄素可改善亚急性IHC模型大鼠肝功能、胆红素代谢、肠道菌群,减轻炎症反应及肝脏组织病理变化,且具有剂量依赖性,推测其作用机制与抑制NF-κB信号通路有关。     

狐臭柴茎挥发油体外抗炎活性及基于NF-κB和MAPKs信号通路作用机制的研究

目的:探究狐臭柴茎挥发油的体外抗炎活性及其作用机制。方法:通过水蒸气蒸馏法制备狐臭柴茎挥发油,采用GC-MS对其化学成分进行分析。通过Griess法和ELISA法测定挥发油对LPS诱导RAW264.7细胞上清液中一氧化氮(NO)、肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)、白细胞介素6(IL-6)水平的影响;qRT-PCR检测iNOS、COX-2、TNF-α、IL-6、IL-1β mRNA的表达;Western blot测定挥发油对iNOS、COX-2、NF-κB和MAPKs信号通路蛋白的影响。结果:从挥发油中共鉴定出74种化学成分,其中主要的化学成分是茅术醇(13.50%)。挥发油显著抑制NO、TNF-α和IL-6的分泌(P＜0.01),同时降低了促炎因子(TNF-α、IL-6和IL-1β)和促炎酶(iNOS和COX-2)的mRNA表达水平(P＜0.01)。Western blot研究表明挥发油能下调NF-κB信号通路细胞核p65蛋白表达、p65和IκBα磷酸化(P＜0.05或P＜0.01)。此外,还降低了MAPKs信号通路p38、JNK和ERK蛋白的磷酸化(P＜0.01)。结论:狐臭柴茎挥发油对LPS诱导RAW264.7细胞炎症模型具有较好的抗炎效果,其内在的分子机制与下调NF-κB和MAPKs信号通路有关。     

内毒素耐受状态小鼠对大肠埃希菌敏感性及促炎细胞因子水平变化的研究

目的:研究内毒素耐受状态对大肠埃希菌的敏感性及促炎细胞因子水平的变化。方法:采用小剂量LPS(1mg/kg)连续腹腔注射5d并在第6天尾静脉注射大剂量LPS(50mg/kg)建立小鼠内毒素耐受模型。观察小鼠7d存活率或采用ELISA法检测注射大剂量LPS后6、12h血清中TNF-α、IL-6水平。然后,采用不同浓度的大肠埃希菌攻击耐受小鼠,观察小鼠7d存活率;或采用血培养方法检测血液中细菌数量,ELISA法检测血清中TNF-α、IL-6水平。结果:大剂量LPS攻击组(攻击组)小鼠存活率为0%,LPS耐受组(耐受组)小鼠存活率为100%;耐受组小鼠血清TNF-α、IL-6水平较攻击组显著降低(P<0.01)。5.0×108 CFU/kg大肠埃希菌可导致正常小鼠100%死亡,但是仅1.0×107 CFU/kg大肠埃希菌就可导致耐受组小鼠100%死亡;耐受组给予大肠埃希菌低、高剂量组小鼠血液中细菌数量远远高于相应的正常小鼠大肠埃希菌低或高剂量组(P<0.01),而血清中TNF-α、IL-6水平则远远低于相应的大肠埃希菌低或高剂量组(P<0.01)。结论:连续腹腔注射小剂量LPS 5d后并在第6天尾静脉注射大剂量LPS可成功建立LPS耐受模型;与正常对照组小鼠比较,较低数量的大肠埃希菌就可导致耐受组小鼠死亡,说明内毒素耐受小鼠对大肠埃希菌的敏感性较正常小鼠明显增高,其机制可能与内毒素耐受后促炎细胞因子水平降低、机体抵抗力降低有关。     

柚皮素对肺炎链球菌诱导的肺泡上皮细胞凋亡及MAPK/NF-κB信号通路的影响

本研究探究柚皮素对肺炎链球菌(SP)诱导的肺泡上皮细胞凋亡及MAPK/NF-κB信号通路的影响。培养肺泡上皮细胞HPAEpiC,使用CCK-8检测柚皮素对HPAEpiC细胞的毒性。再次培养HPAEpiC细胞,分为对照组、模型组、阳性对照组、柚皮素组和抑制剂组,ELISA法检测炎症因子的表达水平;TUNEL检测细胞凋亡水平;Western blot检测凋亡及MAPK/NF-κB信号通路相关蛋白表达水平。结果显示,柚皮素浓度≤60μmol/L时,对HPAEpiC细胞无毒性(P>0.05)。SP诱导可上调细胞上清液中炎症因子(TNF-α和IL-1β)的释放量、细胞凋亡率和细胞中凋亡相关蛋白(Cleaved caspase-8、Cleaved caspase-9和Cleaved caspase-3)与MAPK/NF-κB信号通路相关蛋白(p-JNK、p-p38、p-ERK、p-p65和p-IκBα)的表达水平。柚皮素干预后可改善SP对肺泡上皮细胞的影响,且添加MAPK/NF-κB信号通路抑制剂干预与柚皮素干预对SP诱导的肺泡上皮细胞的作用效果具有相似性。以上结果提示柚皮素可能通过抑制MA...     

木犀草素·4,4′-联吡啶药物共晶对小鼠巨噬细胞RAW264.7的抗炎作用研究

目的:研究木犀草素·4,4′-联吡啶药物共晶的抗炎作用及机制。方法:以正常小鼠巨噬细胞RAW264.7为对照,以脂多糖(LPS)诱导的RAW264.7细胞为炎症模型,采用MTT法检测不同浓度(10、20、40、80μmol/L)的木犀草素、4,4′-联吡啶和木犀草素·4,4′-联吡啶药物共晶作用细胞2 h后的细胞活性;荧光定量聚合酶链式反应法测定40μmol/L浓度时细胞中诱导型一氧化氮合酶(i NOS)、环氧合酶2(COX-2)m RNA的表达,酶联免疫吸附法测定40μmol/L浓度时细胞中肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)、白细胞介素6(IL-6)蛋白表达,Western blot法测定40μmol/L浓度时细胞中核转录因子p65(NF-κB p65)蛋白表达。结果:与正常细胞比较,LPS诱导后RAW264.7细胞活性明显降低(P<0.01),i NOS和COX-2 m RNA表达水平及TNF-α、IL-6、NF-κB p65蛋白表达水平均明显升高(P<0.01)。木犀草素和木犀草素·4,4′-联吡啶药物共晶均能增强LPS诱导后RAW264.7细胞活性(P<0.05或P<0.01),且呈浓度依赖性;4,4′-联吡啶对LPS诱导后RAW264.7细胞活性无明显影响;40μmol/L浓度下,木犀草素和木犀草素·4,4′-联吡啶药物共晶可使LPS诱导后细胞中i NOS和COX-2 m RNA表达水平及TNF-α、IL-6、NF-κB p65蛋白表达水平明显降低(P<0.05或P<0.01),其中木犀草素·4,4′-联吡啶药物共晶降低效果强于木犀草素(P<0.05或P<0.01)。结论:木犀草素·4,4′-联吡啶药物共晶可能通过下调NF-κB信号来抑制炎症相关因子产生,其抗炎作用优于木犀草素。     

阿里红调控MAPK/NF-κB信号通路对过敏性哮喘小鼠的影响及作用机制

目的:探讨阿里红多糖(FOPS)和阿里红醇提物(FOEE)对卵清白蛋白(OVA)诱导的过敏性哮喘小鼠模型的干预作用及潜在机制。方法:将72只雌性BALB/c小鼠随机分成9组,每组8只,分为正常组(Control),OVA诱导的过敏性哮喘模型组(OVA),阳性对照组(桂龙咳喘宁,Guilong),FOPS低、中、高剂量组(50,100,200 mg·kg^-1),FOEE低、中、高剂量组(50,100,200 mg·kg^-1)。观察并比较小鼠体质量变化、肺组织病理学变化;测定各组小鼠支气管肺泡灌洗液(BALF)中炎症细胞数量、IL-4、IL-5及TNF-α的含量;测定各组小鼠肺组织中磷酸化p38 MAPK(p-p38 MAPK)和磷酸化NF-κB p65(p-NF-κB p65)蛋白表达。结果:模型组小鼠BALF中炎症总细胞数量、嗜酸性粒细胞、中性粒细胞、淋巴细胞和单核细胞的数量,BALF中IL-4、IL-5和TNF-α的含量,肺组织p-p38 MAPK、Caspase-1、p-IκBα和p-NF-κB p65蛋白表达均明显高于正常组(P<...     

木犀草素抑制PKM2继而促进自噬诱导肝癌细胞凋亡

目的：探究木犀草素对人肝癌HepG2细胞中PKM2表达的影响，继而挖掘木犀草素诱导肝癌细胞凋亡的机制。方法：通过数据库比较肝癌的癌旁组织和肿瘤组织中的PKM2表达差异，收集肝癌患者标本，检测癌和癌旁组织中PKM2 mRNA和蛋白的表达差异。木犀草素刺激肝癌细胞HepG2，用CCK8、流式凋亡及Western blot方法检测木犀草素对肝癌生存率和凋亡的影响，以及木犀草素作用于肝癌细胞后PKM2的变化。在肝癌细胞系中敲减或过表达PKM2，用木犀草素刺激肝癌细胞，探究PKM2对木犀草素诱导肝癌细胞增殖和凋亡的影响，同时检测自噬相关分子，探究PKM2及木犀草素对自噬的影响。结果：与癌旁组织相比，肿瘤组织中PKM2表达量升高；木犀草素以浓度依赖性和时间依赖性抑制HepG2细胞增殖，诱导细胞凋亡，并且随着木犀草素浓度的增高PKM2的表达逐渐降低；敲减PKM2可以显著抑制肝癌细胞增殖，促进肝癌细胞凋亡，而过表达PKM2可以削弱木犀草素对肝癌细胞的凋亡作用。木犀草素可以促进肝癌细胞自噬，敲减PKM2后可以抑制木犀草素诱导的自噬。结论：木犀草素可以通过抑制PKM2表达，诱导肝癌细胞发生自噬，促进细胞凋亡。     

Anti-inflammatory effect of Yam Glycoprotein on lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury via the NLRP3 and NF-κB/TLR4 signaling pathway

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a common lung disease accompanied by acute and persistent pulmonary inflammatory response syndrome, which leads to alveolar epithelial cells and capillary endothelial cell damage. Yam glycoprotein, separated from traditional Chinese yam, has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. In this experiment, we mainly studied the therapeutic effect and mechanism of a glycoprotein on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI mice. An oral glycoprotein method was used to treat the mouse ALI model induced by LPS injection in the peritoneal cavity. Afterward, we measured the wet/dry (W/D) ratio, the activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO), the oxidative index superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) and the production of inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) to evaluate the effect of yam glycoprotein on lung tissue changes. We examined the protein expression of TLR4, ASC, NF-κBp65, p-NF-κBp65, Caspase-1, IκB, NLRP3, p-IκB, and β-actin by western blot analysis. Immunohistochemical analyses of NLRP3 and p-p65 in lung tissue were carried out to assess the mechanism of glycoprotein action. This result suggests that glycoprotein markedly depressed LPS-induced lung W/D ratio, MPO activity, MDA content SOD and GSH-Px depletion, and the contents of inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. Moreover, glycoprotein blocked TLR4/NF-κBp65 signaling activation and NLRP3inflammasome expression in LPS-induced ALI mice. As this particular study shows, glycoprotein has a safeguarding effects on LPS-induced ALI mice, possibly via activating NLRP3inflammasome and TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathways.     

DATS通过NF-κB抑制LPS诱导小鼠肺泡巨噬细胞促炎细胞因子表达

目的探讨二烯丙基三硫(DATS)抑制脂多糖(LPS)诱导小鼠肺泡巨噬细胞肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)及白介素-1β表达的信号转导机制。方法体外培养MH-S细胞,用DATS和(或)LPS进行干预。反转录PCR检测细胞中TNF-α、IL-1β mRNA表达,电泳迁移率改变分析(EMSA)检测细胞核因子-κB(NF-κB)活性,Western blot检测细胞磷酸化(p-IκB)及非磷酸化IκB的表达。结果LPS刺激MH-S细胞可导致TNF-α、IL-1β mRNA、p-IκB表达增加及NF-κB活性升高。用DATS(0.1、0.5、2.5、5.0mg.L-1)预处理细胞30min后再给予LPS刺激,可使TNF-α、IL-1β mRNA表达降低,并呈剂量依赖性;升高的NF-κB活性及p-IκB表达均显不同程度的抑制。单独DATS对TNF-α、IL-1β mRNA表达及NF-κB活性无影响。结论DATS可通过抑制IκB磷酸化及NF-κB活化,进而下调LPS诱导小鼠肺泡巨噬细胞TNF-α、IL-1β mRNA表达。     

五灵胶囊有效成分对脂多糖诱导大鼠枯否细胞核因子的影响

目的观察五灵胶囊中有效成分对脂多糖（LPS）诱导大鼠枯否细胞核因子（NF-κB）的调节作用。方法分离大鼠肝细胞和枯否细胞,60μg·L~（-1）LPS诱导枯否细胞分泌促炎因子及NO。采用^125Ⅰ放射免疫测定法测定TNFα、IL-6、IL-8水平,比色法测定NO生成量,Western blot法检测ERK、p-ERK、NF-κB P50、NF-κB P65、p-NF-κB P65、IκB、p-IκB、IKK、P38、p-P38、CD14、Stat3蛋白的变化。结果五灵胶囊中的有效成分可显著抑制LPS诱导枯否细胞分泌TNF-α、IL-6、IL-8、NO的生成量。结论五灵胶囊有效成分能抑制枯否细胞释放促炎因子,是其治疗慢性肝炎的作用机制之一。     

Baicalin attenuates lipopolysaccharide induced inflammation and apoptosis of cow mammary epithelial cells by regulating NF-κB and HSP72

Baicalin is the main ingredient of traditional Chinese herbal medicine, Scutellaria baicalensis, which has been widely used clinically as an anti-inflammatory agent. However, molecular mechanism of action of this drug is not yet clear. In the present study, the protective mechanism of baicalin against lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced inflammatory injury in cow mammary epithelial cells (CMECs) was explored. For this purpose, in vitro cultured CMECs were treated with baicalin (10 μg/mL) and LPS (10 μg/mL) for 24 and 12 h, respectively, and the cell viability was measured by using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8). The results revealed that LPS induced inflammatory responses, as p-p65/p65 and p-IκBα/IκBα ratios and TNF-α and IL-1β production was increased in the CMECs. Both Bcl-2/Bax ratio and cell viability were decreased and caspase-3 cleaved following LPS treatment, indicating apoptosis of CMECs. Moreover, both LPS and baicalin increased HSP72 expression of the CMECs. However, cellular inflammatory responses and apoptosis were significantly reduced in baicalin treated CMECs. In conclusion, baicalin ameliorated inflammation and apoptosis of the CMECs induced by LPS via inhibiting NF-κB activation and up regulation of HSP72.     

五灵胶囊中部分化学成分对脂多糖诱导枯否细胞释放炎症因子的影响

目的观察五灵胶囊（Wuling capsules,WL）中部分化学成分对脂多糖（lipopolysaccharider,LPS）诱导大鼠原代枯否细胞（Kupffer cell,KC）表达ERK（extracellular signal-regulated kinase）和核因子（nuclear factor-kappa B,NF-κB）调节炎症因子和介质的作用。方法分离大鼠KC,采用60μg L 1 LPS诱导KC分泌炎症因子及NOS,ELISA测定TNF-α、IL-6、IL-8,比色法测定NOS,Western blot检测全蛋白ERK、p-ERK、NF-κBp50、NF-κBp65、p-NF-κBp65、p-IκK、p-IκB及核、浆蛋白NF-κBp65、p-NF-κBp65的变化。结果 WL明显下调LPS活化KC表达p-ERK、p-NF-κBp65、p-IκK、p-IκB蛋白,模拟WL混合成分（Mix）及6单体成分明显下调LPS活化KC表达p-ERK和p-NF-κBp65信号通路蛋白。各受试药物组均能降低核内p-NF-κBp65表达,减少p-NF-κBp65入核抑制炎性基因转录,降低活化KC过量分泌TNF-α、IL-6、IL-8和NOS。结论 WL中五味子醇甲、五味子乙素、隐丹参酮、丹参酮ⅡA、柴胡皂苷D是干预LPS诱导KC表达ERK、NF-κB信号通路蛋白,抑制炎性因子与介质基因转录而减少TNF-α、IL-6、IL-8和NOS分泌的有效成分。     

Tetrachlorobenzoquinone exhibits neurotoxicity by inducing inflammatory responses through ROS-mediated IKK/IκB/NF-κB signaling

Tetrachlorobenzoquinone (TCBQ) is a joint metabolite of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and pentachlorophenol (PCP). Previous studies have been reported that TCBQ contributes to acute hepatic damage due to its pro-oxidative nature. In the current study, TCBQ showed the highest capacity on the cytotoxicity, ROS formation and inflammatory cytokines release among four compounds, i.e., HCB, PCP, tetrachlorohydroquinone (TCHQ, reduced form of TCBQ) and TCBQ, in PC 12 cells. Further mechanistic study illustrated TCBQ activates nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling. The activation of NF-κB was identified by measuring the protein expressions of inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B kinase (IKK) α/β, p-IKKα/β, an inhibitor of NF-κB (IκB) α, p-IκBα, NF-κB (p65) and p-p65. The translocation of NF-κB was assessed by Western blotting of p65 in nuclear/cytosolic fractions, electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and luciferase reporter gene assay. In addition, TCBQ significantly induced protein and mRNA expressions of inflammatory cytokines and mediators, such as interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and the production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), a specific NF-κB inhibitor inhibited these effects efficiently, further suggested TCBQ-induced inflammatory responses involve NF-κB signaling. Moreover, antioxidants, i.e., N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC), Vitamin E and curcumin, ameliorated TCBQ-induced ROS generation as well as the activation of NF-κB, which implied that ROS serve as the upstream molecule of NF-κB signaling. In summary, TCBQ exhibits a neurotoxic effect by inducing oxidative stress-mediated inflammatory responses via the activation of IKK/IκB/NF-κB pathway in PC12 cells.