Kaempferol has been shown to protect cells against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury through inhibition of apoptosis. In the present study, we sought to investigate whether ferroptosis is involved in the oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R)-induced neuronal injury and the effects of kaempferol on ferroptosis in OGD/R-treated neurons. Western blot, immunofluorescence, and transmission electron microscopy were used to analyze ferroptosis, whereas cell death was detected using lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release. We found that OGD/R attenuated SLC7A11 and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) levels as well as decreased endogenous antioxidants including nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in neurons. Notably, OGD/R enhanced the accumulation of lipid peroxidation, leading to the induction of ferroptosis in neurons. However, kaempferol activated nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/SLC7A11/GPX4 signaling, augmented antioxidant capacity, and suppressed the accumulation of lipid peroxidation in OGD/R-treated neurons. Furthermore, kaempferol significantly reversed OGD/R-induced ferroptosis. Nevertheless, inhibition of Nrf2 by ML385 blocked the protective effects of kaempferol on antioxidant capacity, lipid peroxidation, and ferroptosis in OGD/R-treated neurons. These results suggest that ferroptosis may be a significant cause of cell death associated with OGD/R. Kaempferol provides protection from OGD/R-induced ferroptosis partly by activating Nrf2/SLC7A11/GPX4 signaling pathway.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common age-related neurodegenerative disorder. Accumulating data indicate that astrocytes play an important role in the neuroinflammation related to the pathogenesis of AD. It has been shown that microglia and ast

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder initiated by the aggregation of amyloid-β peptide (Aβ). Macroautophagy, which is essential for cell survival as well as the promotion of cell death, has been observed extensively in AD brains o

Background/Aims: Microglial activation is an important pathological feature in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides play a crucial role in microglial activation. In addition, edaravone (EDA) was recently shown to suppress oxidative stress and proinflammatory cytokine production in APPswePS1dE9 (APP/PS1) mice. However, the mechanism by which EDA inhibits the Aβ-induced proinflammatory response in microglia is poorly understood. Methods: The mitochondrial membrane potential (∆ψm) was evaluated using JC-1 staining. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial ROS levels were detected using CM-H2DCFDA and MitoSOXTM Red, respectively. The levels of CD11b, NLRP3, pro-caspase-1 and manganese superoxide dismutase (SOD-2) were observed by western blotting, and the levels of interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) in culture supernatants were quantified using an ELISA kit. Results: Aβ induced microglia activation and mitochondrial dysfunction. In addition, mitochondrial dysfunction was associated with ROS accumulation and activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Importantly, Aβ induced activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, leading to caspase-1 activation and IL-1β release in microglia. Moreover, EDA obviously attenuated the depolarization of ∆ψm, reduced mitochondria-derived ROS production and increased SOD-2 activity, resulting in the suppression of NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated IL-1β secretion in Aβ-treated microglia. Conclusion: EDA is a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant and exhibits anti-inflammatory effects on Aβ-treated microglia.