The brain is considered an immune-privileged organ. However, it has been found that inflammation mediated by microglia, which were once believed to support the brain structure, plays important roles in neuronal cell survival and death. Whether activated microglia has beneficial or detrimental effects on neurons remain controversial. Activated microglia could contribute to maintaining homeostasis in the brain by removing damaged cells. Nonetheless, dysregulation of microglial activation leads to neuronal cell death. Therefore, much attention has been paid to compounds that regulate microglial activation. Zerumbone, a constituent of Zingiber zerumbet, has been reported to exert several biological activities such as anticancer, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we aimed to determine the anti-inflammatory effect of zerumbone on lipopolysaccharide-induced activation of BV-2 microglial cells and elucidate the underlying mechanism of action. Zerumbone suppressed nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 production induced by lipopolysaccharides through inhibiting the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2. Blocking of mitogen-activated protein kinase and NF-κB activation, if not completely, is considered to be due to the anti-inflammatory effect of zerumbone against microglial activation.

中文翻译：

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Zerumbone通过NF-κB信号传导减弱脂多糖诱导的BV-2小胶质细胞活化

大脑被认为是免疫功能低下的器官。然而，已经发现由小胶质细胞介导的炎症曾经被认为支持大脑结构，在神经元细胞的存活和死亡中起着重要的作用。活化的小胶质细胞是否对神经元具有有益或有害作用仍存在争议。活化的小胶质细胞可以通过去除受损细胞来维持大脑的稳态。尽管如此，小胶质细胞活化的失调导致神经元细胞死亡。因此，已经非常关注调节小胶质细胞活化的化合物。Zerumbone是Zingiber zerumbet的成分，据报道具有多种生物活性，例如抗癌，抗菌和抗炎作用。在这个研究中，我们的目的是确定zerumbone对脂多糖诱导的BV-2小胶质细胞激活的抗炎作用，并阐明其潜在的作用机制。Zerumbone通过抑制诱导型一氧化氮合酶和环氧合酶2的表达来抑制脂多糖诱导的一氧化氮和前列腺素E2的产生。丝裂原活化蛋白激酶和NF-κB活化的阻断（如果未完全阻断）被认为是由于骨对小胶质细胞活化的抗炎作用。