AUTHOR=Piovan Anna , Battaglia Jessica , Filippini Raffaella , Dalla Costa Vanessa , Facci Laura , Argentini Carla , Pagetta Andrea , Giusti Pietro , Zusso Morena 

TITLE=Pre- and Early Post-treatment With Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina) Extract Impedes Lipopolysaccharide-triggered Neuroinflammation in Microglia

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2021.724993

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2021.724993

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Background:</bold> Uncontrolled neuroinflammation and microglia activation lead to cellular and tissue damage contributing to neurodegenerative and neurological disorders. Spirulina (<italic>Arthrospira platensis</italic> (Nordstedt) Gomont, or <italic>Spirulina platensis</italic>), a blue-green microalga, which belongs to the class of cyanobacteria, has been studied for its numerous health benefits, which include anti-inflammatory properties, among others. Furthermore, <italic>in vivo</italic> studies have highlighted neuroprotective effects of Spirulina from neuroinflammatory insults in different brain areas. However, the mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory effect of the microalga are not completely understood. In this study we examined the effect of pre- and post-treatment with an acetone extract of Spirulina (E1) in an <italic>in vitro</italic> model of LPS-induced microglia activation.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> The effect of E1 on the release of IL-1β and TNF-α, expression of iNOS, nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2), and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and the activation of NF-κB was investigated in primary microglia by ELISA, real-time PCR, and immunofluorescence.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Pre- and early post-treatment with non-cytotoxic concentrations of E1 down-regulated the release of IL-1β and TNF-α, and the over-expression of iNOS induced by LPS. E1 also significantly blocked the LPS-induced nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 subunit, and upregulated gene and protein levels of Nrf2, as well as gene expression of HO-1.</p><p><bold>Conclusions:</bold> These results indicate that the extract of Spirulina can be useful in the control of microglia activation and neuroinflammatory processes. This evidence can support future <italic>in vivo</italic> studies to test pre- and post-treatment effects of the acetone extract from Spirulina.</p>