Fasudil通过TLR4通路抑制脂多糖诱导的小鼠BV-2小胶质细胞TNF-α和IL-1β的表达

目的探讨Fasudil对脂多糖(LPS)诱导BV-2小胶质细胞系促炎细胞因子表达中的作用。方法体外培养BV-2小胶质细胞系,实验分为PBS对照组、LPS刺激组、LPS联合Fasudil干预组,ELISA检测细胞TNF-α、IL-1β的释放,Griess法检测NO释放水平,流式细胞术检测Toll样受体4(TLR4)、TLR2蛋白表达。结果 LPS刺激BV-2细胞可导致TNF-α、IL-1β和NO的释放明显增加,还可导致炎性信号通路中的受体TLR4表达明显增加。Fasudil能明显抑制炎性因子的释放和TLR4的表达。结论 Fasudil可抑制LPS诱导的小胶质细胞NO、TNF-α和IL-1β释放,其作用机制可能与Fasudil下调TLR4通路有关。     

三七皂苷Rg1抑制脂多糖诱导的小胶质细胞激活

目的 探讨三七皂苷Rg1(Rg1)对脂多糖(LPS)诱导的小胶质细胞系BV-2细胞炎性因子释放的抑制作用.方法 用LPS刺激BV-2细胞构建炎症模型,采用四甲基偶氮唑盐比色法检测Rg1对BV-2细胞活力的影响,免疫荧光染色和反转录PCR方法检测不同浓度Rg1(10、20、40μmol/L)对细胞炎性蛋白酶诱导型一氧化氮合酶(iNOS)和环氧合酶-2 (COX-2)、细胞炎性因子肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)和白细胞介素-1β(IL-1β)、炎性信号分子NF-κB蛋白与mRNA的表达变化.结果 不同浓度的Rg1在转录水平和翻译水平上明显抑制了LPS诱导的细胞炎性蛋白酶iNOS和COX-2、细胞炎性因子TNF-α和IL-1β与炎性信号分子NF-κB的上调,并且iNOS、COX-2和NF-κB的表达呈剂量依赖性.结论 Rg1可通过调控LPS诱导的小胶质细胞系BV-2细胞炎性因子释放从而抑制小胶质细胞激活,发挥抗神经炎症的作用.     

阿曼托双黄酮抑制脂多糖诱导的小鼠BV-2小胶质细胞炎症反应

目的探讨阿曼托双黄酮(AF)对脂多糖(LPS)诱导的BV-2小胶质细胞的炎性因子的阻断效应。方法首先通过CCK-8法筛选出对BV-2细胞活性无影响的AF浓度;在此基础上,采用10mol/L AF预处理BV-2小胶质细胞1 h,加入1.0g/mL LPS诱导细胞炎症反应,通过实时荧光定量PCR检测炎性因子白细胞介素1β(IL-1β)、肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)、诱导型一氧化氮合酶(iNOS)及环加氧酶2(COX2)的mRNA水平,Western blot法检测iNOS及COX2的蛋白水平,免疫荧光细胞化学染色法检测COX2、 iNOS的表达和定位。结果 CCK-8法证明10μmol/L AF对BV-2小胶质细胞活性无明显影响。LPS单独处理可增加BV-2小胶质细胞IL-1β、 TNF-α、 COX2、 iNOS的mRNA表达及COX2、 iNOS蛋白表达;与LPS组相比,10μmol/L AF预给药组能够明显降低IL-1β、 TNF-α、 COX2、 iNOS的mRNA水平及COX2和iNOS的蛋白水平,同时AF可明显抑制COX2及iNOS的表达,抑制BV-2小胶质细胞的激活状态。结论 AF对LPS诱导的BV-2小胶质细胞炎症反应具有保护作用。     

法舒地尔(Fasudil)抑制脂多糖诱导的小鼠星形胶质细胞活化和炎性反应及其机制

目的探讨法舒地尔(Fasudil)对脂多糖(LPS)诱导的星形胶质细胞活化和炎症反应及Toll样受体4(TLR4)/核因子κB(NF-κB)信号通路的影响。方法体外培养新生C57BL/6小鼠大脑皮质星形胶质细胞,细胞分为PBS对照组、1μg/m L LPS刺激组、1μg/m L LPS联合15μg/m L盐酸法舒地尔处理组,Griess法检测培养细胞上清液一氧化氮(NO)的水平,ELISA检测肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)、白细胞介素6(IL-6)、IL-10和IL-4的水平,免疫荧光细胞化学染色检测星形胶质细胞胶质原纤维酸性蛋白(GFAP)及TLR4的表达,Western blot法检测GFAP、TLR4和磷酸化的NF-κBp65(p-NF-κBp65)蛋白水平。结果与PBS组比较,LPS组NO、TNF-α和IL-6水平显著升高,IL-10和IL-4水平降低;法舒地尔能抑制LPS诱导的NO、TNF-α和IL-6的分泌,增加IL-10和IL-4的分泌。法舒地尔处理组星形胶质细胞GFAP表达显著降低,同时TLR4和NF-κB蛋白的水平也降低。结论法舒地尔阻断TLR4/NF-κB信号通路抑制LPS诱导的星形胶质细胞活化及炎性反应。     

Fasudil对实验性自身免疫性脑脊髓炎小鼠小胶质细胞和星形胶质细胞的作用

目的:确认法舒地尔(Fasudil)对实验性自身免疫性脑脊髓炎(EAE)的治疗效果,观察法舒地尔对小胶质细胞和星形胶质细胞的作用.方法:成年雌性C57BL/6小鼠用MOG35-55肽免疫制作慢性EAE模型,分别随机在免疫后第3天(Fasudil早期治疗组)和发病时给予Fasudil(Fasudil晚期治疗组),以同样方式给予生理盐水作为对照.观察临床症状和体质量变化;采用免疫荧光组织化学染色、Western blot 法检测脊髓小胶质细胞和星形胶质细胞iNOS和p-NF-κB/p65的表达,ELISA测定脊髓匀浆中IL-1β和TNF-α水平.结果:Fasudil推迟EAE起病,减轻EAE症状,抑制脊髓中小胶质细胞iNOS以及星形胶质细胞p-NF-κB/p65表达,并伴随炎性因子IL-1β和TNF-α释放降低.结论:Fasudil可抑制EAE小鼠小胶质细胞和星形胶质细胞炎性分子的释放.     

甜叶悬钩子苷通过NF-κB和MAPK信号通路抑制小鼠神经炎症细胞模型炎症反应

目的：通过体外实验探究甜叶悬钩子苷(RUB)对脂多糖(LPS)诱导小鼠BV-2小胶质细胞神经炎症反应的影响及改善机制。方法：采用CCK-8法检测RUB对BV-2细胞活力的影响;使用LPS诱导BV-2小胶质细胞建立神经炎症细胞模型,用不同浓度RUB进行干预,将BV-2细胞分为对照组、LPS模型组及LPS+RUB(25、50和100μmol/L)干预组,采用ELISA法检测细胞上清中白细胞介素1β(IL-1β)和肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)的浓度;RTqPCR法检测促炎细胞因子环加氧酶2(COX-2)、诱导型一氧化氮合酶(iNOS)、IL-1β和TNF-α的mRNA表达水平;Western blot法检测NF-κB和MAPK信号通路相关蛋白的表达;免疫荧光染色观察细胞中p65的表达情况。结果：与对照组相比,LPS诱导后细胞上清液中IL-1β和TNF-α的分泌量增加(P<0.01),促炎细胞因子COX-2、iNOS、IL-1β和TNF-α的mRNA水平显著增加(P<0.01),NF-κB和MAPK信号通路蛋白表达显著上调(P<0.05或P<0.01),且p65出现荧光...     

天麻素对M1型小胶质细胞中TNF-α和CD86表达的影响

目的:研究天麻素(Gastrodin)对脂多糖(LPS)诱导激活的M1型小胶质细胞标记物肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)和CD86表达的影响.方法:将BV2小胶质细胞随机分为对照组(control)、脂多糖组(LPS)和脂多糖+天麻素组(LPS+G),利用LPS诱导BV2细胞激活并向M1型转化,使用免疫荧光双标染色和We...     

下调TSPO表达不影响脂多糖诱导的小胶质细胞TNF-α和IL-1β以及IL-6的分泌

目的研究相对分子质量(Mr)18 000转运蛋白(TSPO)基因表达下调对脂多糖(LPS)诱导BV-2小胶质细胞分泌TNF-α,IL-1β和IL-6的影响。方法以RNA干扰技术建立TSPO基因表达下调的细胞模型,实时荧光定量PCR(qRT-PCR)和Western blot法检测转染TSPO siRNA BV-2细胞TSPO mRNA及蛋白水平表达的效果;用qRT-PCR法检测TSPO基因下调后小胶质细胞BV-2在LPS作用下分泌TNF-α、IL-1β和IL-6的mRNA水平表达的情况;ELISA检测TSPO基因下调小胶质细胞BV-2在LPS作用下分泌TNF-α、IL-1β和IL-6的蛋白水平表达的变化。结果成功建立了TSPO基因下调的细胞模型,稳定表达TSPO siRNA细胞的TSPO mRNA和蛋白水平表达均明显下降,TSPO基因下调后BV-2细胞在LPS作用下分泌TNF-α、IL-1β和IL-6的量无变化。结论下调TSPO的表达对LPS刺激引起的小胶质细胞TNF-α、IL-1β和IL-6的分泌无明显影响。     

栀子苷下调Toll样受体4表达并拮抗脂多糖诱导的小胶质细胞炎性反应

目的:观察栀子昔对细菌脂多糖(LPS)诱导的BV2小胶质细胞炎性反应的影响并探讨其作用机制。方法:LPS诱导BV2小胶质细胞活化,CCK-8方法检测细胞存活率,Griess法测定NO释放量,ELISA测定肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)和白介素-1β(IL-1β)含量,免疫印迹检测Toll样受体4(TLR4)蛋白表达。结果:栀子苷在10～100μg/ml浓度范围内对小胶质细胞活力影响不显著,此浓度范围内,栀子苷剂量依赖性的减少LPS诱导的NO、TNF-α和IL-1β释放。此外,栀子苷还可抑制LPS诱导的BV2细胞形态活化改变,并降低LPS诱导的TLR4蛋白表达。结论:栀子苷可以拮抗LPS诱导的BV2小胶质细胞炎性反应,其机制可能与下调TLR4信号通路有关。     

微小RNA-155对小胶质BV-2细胞炎症因子分泌及吲哚胺2,3-双加氧酶表达的影响

目的:探讨微小RNA-155(miR-155)对小胶质BV-2细胞炎症因子分泌及吲哚胺2,3-双加氧酶(IDO)表达的影响。方法:采用携带miR-155的慢病毒感染小胶质BV-2细胞,以脂多糖(LPS)处理BV-2细胞为对照。观察细胞形态,流式液相芯片检测炎症因子的分泌水平,real-time PCR检测炎症因子和IDO的mRNA表达水平,Western blot法检测细胞因子信号抑制物1(SOCS1)、磷酸化p38 MAPK和IDO蛋白的蛋白水平。结果:携带miR-155的慢病毒成功感染BV-2细胞,其miR-155表达水平高于LPS处理组和阴性病毒感染组(P0.01)。miR-155促进BV-2细胞白细胞介素6(IL-6)、肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)、单核细胞趋化蛋白1(MCP-1)和IL-10分泌,抑制IL-12分泌,上调IL-6、TNF-α、IL-10和IDO的mRNA表达,同时升高IDO蛋白表达水平和p38 MAPK蛋白磷酸化水平,下调SOCS1蛋白表达(P0.01)。LPS刺激BV-2细胞分泌炎症因子IL-6、TNF-α、MCP-1和IL-12,上调IL-6、TNF-α和IDO mRNA表达,同时上调IDO、p-p38 MAPK和SOCS1的蛋白水平。结论:miR-155促进小胶质BV-2细胞相关炎症因子分泌和IDO蛋白表达,可能与SOCS1和p38 MAPK信号通路相关。     

PYNOD对LPS活化的BV2小胶质细胞炎症因子释放的影响

 目的:观察PYNOD对LPS活化的BV2小胶质细胞炎症因子释放的影响。方法: 将表达PYNOD的重组质粒pEGFP-C2-PYNOD瞬时转染BV2细胞后,加入LPS作用24 h,Griess 法检测一氧化氮（nitric oxide, NO）的释放,实时荧光定量PCR（real-time PCR）检测诱导型一氧化氮合酶（inducible NO synthase, iNOS）和白细胞介素-1β（interleukin-1β,IL-1β）mRNA的表达,此外Western blotting和ELISA法检测iNOS和IL-1β的蛋白表达。结果: 转染PYNOD重组质粒能显著抑制LPS诱导的BV2小胶质细胞炎症因子NO的释放（P＜0.05）。Real-time PCR证实PYNOD可抑制iNOS和 IL-1β 的mRNA表达,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。ELISA和Western blotting证实PYNOD可下调iNOS和 IL-1β 蛋白的表达（P＜0.05）。结论: PYNOD蛋白可以在转录水平和翻译水平显著抑制LPS刺激的BV2小胶质细胞活化产生的炎症反应。     

Inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inducible nitric oxide by extract of Emilia sonchifolia L. aerial parts

Emilia sonchifolia L. (Asteraceae) is used in ethnomedicine for the treatment of a wide array of inflammatory disorders. This practice has also been supported by scientific reports which showed that extracts of E. sonchifolia possess anti-inflammatory effects in rodents. However, the mechanism(s) through which the extracts produce these effects is not known. In this study, the effect of a methanol/methylene chloride extract of E. sonchifolia (ES) on the levels of IL-1β and TNF-α after an intraperitoneal lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 1?mg/kg) challenge was investigated in mice. The effect of ES on TNF-α and inducible nitric oxide (iNO) production by LPS-stimulated bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMDM) was also investigated in vitro. BMMDM were pre-incubated for 2?h with ES (20, and 100 μg/mL) or with Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate, PDTC (100 µM) and then activated with LPS, and then the IL-1β, TNF-α and NO production measured in the cell-free conditioned culture supernatant after 24?h of incubation. In groups of mice pre-treated with ES, the systemic levels of IL-1β and TNF-α induced by LPS were found to be significantly (p < 0.05) lower. In vitro, ES treatment caused a concentration-dependent decrease in LPS-inducible IL-1β, TNF-α, and NO production by BMDM compared to the effects of treatment of the cells with LPS alone without affecting the viability of the cells. The results of these studies suggest that treatment with ES alleviated inflammatory responses possibly through a suppression of pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines such as IL-1β, TNF-α, and iNO.     

Posttreatment with propofol attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced up-regulation of inflammatory molecules in primary microglia

Background

Activation of microglia is involved in a broad range of neuroinflammatory diseases. Suppression of microglial activation may, therefore, contribute to alleviate the progression of neuroinflammatory diseases. It has been reported that propofol has a potent anti-inflammatory property. In the present study, we investigated the effects of posttreatment with propofol on the production of inflammatory molecules in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated microglia.

Materials and methods

Microglia were exposed to various concentrations (25, 50, 100, 250 μM) of propofol for 1 h after LPS stimulation for 24 h. The levels of proinflammatory mediators inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)/nitric oxide (NO), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)/prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were measured.

Results

Propofol at a concentration of 25 μM did not affect the production of proinflammatory mediators, which was enhanced by LPS. At the concentrations of 50, 100, and 250 μM, propofol significantly inhibited LPS-mediated production of NO, PGE2, TNF-α, and IL-1β and the expression of iNOSmRNA, COX-2mRNA, TNF-α mRNA, and IL-1β mRNA.

Conclusions

These results suggest that propofol, at clinically relevant concentrations, can reduce inflammatory responses in LPS-induced inflammation in activated microglia and might be an intravenous anesthetic of choice when patients with neuroinflammatory diseases require sedation and/or general anesthesia.     

妊娠期脂多糖暴露通过激活子代小胶质细胞诱导大鼠孤独症样行为

目的:探讨妊娠期脂多糖(LPS)诱导的孤独症样行为仔鼠脑组织Toll样受体4(TLR4)及小胶质细胞分型的变化。方法:24只孕鼠随机平分为2组(n=12),分别于怀孕9.5 d时腹腔注射LPS(100μg/kg)或等体积磷酸盐缓冲液(PBS),所产子代大鼠即为LPS组(n=72)及PBS组(n=72)仔鼠。采用real-time PCR和Western blot技术测定仔鼠TLR4、离子钙结合衔接分子1(IBA-1)、诱导型一氧化氮合酶(iNOS)和精氨酸酶1(Arg-1)的表达水平。免疫荧光染色检测仔鼠前额叶皮质小胶质细胞的形态学改变。ELISA试剂盒测定孕鼠血清脂多糖结合蛋白(LBP)和肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)及仔鼠脑组织TNF-α和白细胞介素10(IL-10)含量。三箱社交实验、嗅觉适应/去适应实验和旷场实验检测子代大鼠社交行为、探索行为及刻板行为。体外培养N9小胶质细胞,予以TLR4阻断剂瑞沙托维(TAK242)处理后,观察LPS诱导的N9细胞TLR4、iNOS及Arg-1表达水平的变化。结果:妊娠期LPS处理可诱导母鼠血清LBP及TNF-α显著升高(P<0.01或P<0.05),呈免疫激活态,其子代大鼠出现社会交往障碍、重复刻板行为等孤独症样行为。LPS组仔鼠前额叶皮质中TLR4、IBA-1和iNOS的mRNA及蛋白表达水平显著增加(P<0.05或P<0.01),而Arg-1的mRNA及蛋白表达水平却显著下降(P<0.05或P<0.01),M1型小胶质细胞增多,M2型减少,TNF-α表达水平升高(P<0.01),而IL-10表达水平降低(P<0.01)。形态学显示LPS组小胶质细胞分支减少,胞体增大、松散,呈激活态。体外实验结果显示,TLR4抑制剂TAK242显著减少了LPS诱导的M1型小胶质细胞转化。结论:妊娠中期LPS暴露激活仔鼠TLR4信号通路,诱导前额叶皮质小胶质细胞向M1型极化,这可能是子代大鼠孤独症样行为的一个发病风险因素。     

CysLT2受体拮抗剂HAMI3379抑制LPS诱导小鼠小胶质瘤细胞系的炎性反应

目的探究半胱氨酰白三烯2(CysLT2)受体拮抗剂HAMI3379对LPS诱导小鼠小胶质细胞(BV-2)炎性反应的调控作用及其可能的作用机制。方法体外培养BV-2,将BV-2分为对照组、LPS(100 ng/mL)组、HAMI3379(0.01、0.1和1μmol/mL)组和LPS+HAMI3379组。CCK-8法检测BV-2细胞的增殖;ELISA检测细胞上清液中炎性因子IL-1β、TNF-α、IL-10的含量;Western-blot检测PKCα、IKBα、NF-κB p50和p65蛋白的表达。结果LPS能够激活BV-2细胞,促进其细胞的增殖(P<0.05);显著增加细胞上清液中炎性因子IL-1β、TNF-α的分泌,减少IL-10的分泌(P<0.05);且显著上调PKCα、IKBα、p65蛋白的表达水平(P<0.05)。CysLT2受体拮抗剂HAMI3379能够显著减轻上述变化(P<0.05)。结论CysLT2受体拮抗剂HAMI3379能够抑制LPS激活BV-2细胞,抑制炎性反应,其作用机制可能与抑制PKCα/NF-κB信号通路有关。     

肾上腺素对小鼠巨噬细胞中促炎／抗炎介质比值的影响

目的：研究肾上腺素对脂多糖（LPS）诱导的小鼠单核巨噬细胞株RAW264.7中促炎介质［肿瘤坏死因子（TNF-α）、一氧化氮（NO）、环加氧酶-2（COX-2）］和抗炎介质［血红素氧化酶-1（HO-1）、白介素10（IL-10）］表达及NF-κB活化的影响。 方法： 以10 μg/L的LPS刺激体外培养的RAW264.7细胞作为炎症模型，加入不同浓度的肾上腺素（1、5、10、50 μmol/L）孵育24 h后，收集培养上清并提取细胞总蛋白，酶联免疫法测定上清中TNF-α、IL-10浓度，Griess法检测上清NO含量(以NO2-/NO3-表示)，免疫印迹法检测细胞总蛋白中COX-2、HO-1、IκB-α的含量。 结果： 10 μg/L的LPS明显诱导TNF-α、NO(NO2-/NO3-)、COX-2、IL-10及HO-1的产生；LPS+肾上腺素组与LPS单独作用组相比促炎介质TNF-α、NO(NO2-/NO3-)、COX-2的表达量显著下降，而抗炎介质IL-10、HO-1的表达却明显增强；肾上腺素与LPS共同作用组中IκB-α的含量与单独LPS作用组相比无明显差异。 结论： 肾上腺素下调LPS诱导的巨噬细胞中促炎介质的表达同时促进抗炎介质的表达，这种效应并不通过影响NF-κB的活化来实现。     

Neuroprotective Effects of Pretreatment with Propofol in LPS-Induced BV-2 Microglia Cells: Role of TLR4 and GSK-3β

Surgery often leads to neuroinflammation, which mainly acts as the activation of microglia cells. Propofol is always used for induction and maintenance of anesthesia prior to surgical trauma, whereas whether or not it could attenuate neuroinflammation used prophylactically is not well defined. In the present study, we incubated BV-2 microglia cells with 1?μg/ml lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to mimic neuroinflammation in vitro. Firstly, cell viability was measured using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and the data indicated that propofol would not reduce cell viability unless its concentration reached 300?μM. Secondly, BV-2 microglia cells were pretreated with 30?μM propofol (clinically relevant concentration), and then stimulated with LPS. The results showed that the production of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-10 was considerably increased by LPS, but the change could be markedly attenuated by pretreatment with propofol. Meanwhile, pretreatment with propofol inhibited LPS-induced augmentation of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) expression at both mRNA and protein levels and further upregulated LPS-induced inactivation of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) in BV-2 microglia cells. These results indicated, at least in part, that pretreatment with propofol can protect BV-2 microglia cells against LPS-induced inflammation. Downregulation of TLR4 expression and inactivation of GSK-3β may be involved in its protective effect.     

葫芦素E对脂多糖诱导RAW264.7巨噬细胞炎症反应的影响及作用机制

分析葫芦素E(CuE)对脂多糖(LPS)诱导的小鼠RAW264.7巨噬细胞炎症反应的影响,研究其抗炎作用的分子机制。采用改良MTT法检测RAW264.7细胞的增殖;以碘化丙锭染色检测CuE对细胞周期的影响;采用细胞内细胞因子染色法分析肿瘤坏死因子(TNF-α)的表达;免疫荧光染色分析胞内Actin的结构;应用免疫印迹法检测CuE对G-肌动蛋白(G-ac-tin)及核转录因子NF-κB核转位的影响。实验结果显示CuE对RAW264.7细胞的增殖具有剂量依赖性抑制作用,并降低细胞内G-actin的水平;CuE明显阻止LPS诱导的细胞伸展和伪足形成,使细胞周期阻滞于G2/M期。同时,CuE还明显抑制LPS活化的RAW264.7细胞表达促炎因子TNF-α,并显著降低LPS诱导的转录因子NF-κB的核转位作用。这些结果表明,CuE通过破坏RAW264.7巨噬细胞的肌动蛋白细胞骨架,引起细胞周期阻滞,并抑制LPS诱导的NF-κB核转位以及TNF-α的表达,从而发挥抗炎作用。     

Sphingosine kinase 1 regulates the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide in activated microglia

Microglial activation has been implicated as one of the causative factors for neuroinflammation in various neurodegenerative diseases. The sphingolipid metabolic pathway plays an important role in inflammation, cell proliferation, survival, chemotaxis, and immunity in peripheral macrophages. In this study, we demonstrate that sphingosine kinase1 (SphK1), a key enzyme of the sphingolipid metabolic pathway, and its receptors are expressed in the mouse BV2 microglial cells and SphK1 alters the expression and production of proinflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide in microglia treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). LPS treatment increased the SphK1 mRNA and protein expression in microglia as revealed by the RT–PCR, Western blot and immunofluorescence. Suppression of SphK1 by its inhibitor, N, N Dimethylsphingosine (DMS), or siRNA resulted in decreased mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, and iNOS and release of TNF-α and nitric oxide (NO) in LPS-activated microglia. Moreover, addition of sphingosine 1 phosphate (S1P), a breakdown product of sphingolipid metabolism, increased the expression levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and iNOS and production of TNF-α and NO in activated microglia. Hence to summarize, suppression of SphK1 in activated microglia inhibits the production of proinflammatory cytokines and NO and the addition of exogenous S1P to activated microglia enhances their inflammatory responses. Since the chronic proinflammatory cytokine production by microglia has been implicated in neuroinflammation, modulation of SphK1 and S1P in microglia could be looked upon as a future potential therapeutic method in the control of neuroinflammation in neurodegenerative diseases.