Trans-astaxanthin attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced neuroinflammation and depressive-like behavior in mice

• Published in: Brain research 2016-10, Vol.1649 (Pt A), p.30-37
• Main Authors: Jiang, Xi, Chen, Lei, Shen, Lailai, Chen, Ziwei, Xu, Lexing, Zhang, Jiajia, Yu, Xuefeng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Depressive-like behavior; Inflammation; Lipopolysaccharide (LPS); Neurology; NF-κB; Trans-astaxanthin
• ISSN: 0006-8993; 1872-6240
• DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2016.08.029

Abstract Mounting evidence supports that inflammation and increased cytokine levels are associated with depression-like symptoms and neuropsychological disturbances in humans. Trans-astaxanthin has anti-inflammatory and antioxidative activity, also has the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier in rodents. Here, we investigated the effects of trans-astaxanthin on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced depressive-like behavior in mice. In both the forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST), the immobility time was increased when mice were administrated with a single dose of LPS (0.83 mg/kg, i.p.). However, this alteration can be reversed by pretreatment of trans-astaxanthin at doses of 20, 40 and 80 mg/kg (p.o.) for 7 days. Further neurochemical assays suggested that LPS-induced overexpression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α) in the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex (PFC) can also be reversed by trans-astaxanthin treatment. Moreover, trans-astaxanthin at 80 mg/kg was demonstrated to effectively antagonize iNOS, nNOS and COX-2 expression, both at mRNA and protein levels, nitric oxide (NO) levels, via regulating NF-κB in the hippocampus and PFC. Taken together, trans-astaxanthin may serve as an effective therapeutic agent for LPS-induced depressive-like behavior via its potent anti-inflammatory property.