Pterostilbene inhibits amyloid--induced neuroinflammation in a microglia cell line by inactivating the NLRP3/caspase-1 inflammasome pathway

Neuroinflammation has been known as an important pathogenetic contributor of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Pterostilbene is a natural compound which has neuroprotective activity. However, the effect of pterostilbene on amyloid- (A)-induced neuroinflammation has not been clarified. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of pterostilbene on A-induced neuroinflammation in microglia. The results indicated that pterostilbene attenuated A(1-42)-induced cytotoxicity of BV-2 cells. A(1-42) induced NO production and iNOS mRNA and protein expression, while pterostilbene inhibited the induction. The expression and secretion levels of IL-6, IL-1, and TNF- were enhanced by A(1-42) treatment, whereas pterostilbene decreased them. A(1-42) activated NLRP3/caspase-1 inflammasome, which was inactivated by pterostilbene. In addition, the inhibitor of caspase-1 Z-YVAD-FMK attenuated the A(1-42)-induced neuroinflammation in BV-2 cells. In conclusion, pterostilbene attenuated the neuroinflammatory response induced by A(1-42) in microglia through inhibiting the NLRP3/caspase-1 inflammasome pathway, indicating that pterostilbene might be an effective therapy for AD.