Fig. 8
From: Rice bran derivatives alleviate microglia activation: possible involvement of MAPK pathway
Schematic showing the effects of RBE on LPS-activated microglia. Stimulation of Toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 by LPS resulted in a phosphorylation and thus activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) signal cascade as well as NF-kB pathway. RBE exerted its beneficial effects by interfering in the activation of key kinases in MAPK signaling cascade but failed to affect NF-kB pathway. These effects of RBE were corroborated by reduction in the levels of COX-2/mPGES-1 and hence PGE2 production. RBE also imparted its anti-inflammatory effects by reducing the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (M1 markers; IL-1β and TNF-α) and by counterbalancing the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokine (M2 marker; IL-10) in microglia. Moreover, these beneficial effects of RBE are possibly due to, at least in part, by reduction in free radical formation (8-isoprostane) in microglia