THIOCTIC ACID AND CDP-CHOLINE MODULATE THE NEUROINFLAMMATION IN LPS-STIMULATED MICROGLIA CELLS AND HIPPOCAMPUS OF HYPERTENSIVE RATS

Brain diseases may occur as a consequence of neuroinflammatory cascades, including alterations in the cross-talks between glial cells and neurons due to the activation of microglia and astrocytes. The aim of the study was to investigate whether (+)-thioctic acid (TIO) and CDP-choline (CDP) alone or in association could block the inflammatory response in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 microglia cells and in the hippocampus of 24-week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). A murine microglial cell line was incubated with LPS and different concentrations of both compounds for 24 h. Following treatments, the cell viability assay did not show significant changes. LPS promoted morphological alterations, an increase in ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1, and interleukin-1 beta levels accompanied by nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B. These changes were reversed after the treatments with both TIO and CDP. The results of in vitro experiments were consistent with those obtained in the hippocampus of SHR rats treated for four weeks with TIO and CDP, alone or in combination. On the other hand, treatment with TIO and CDP attenuated gliosis and microglial activation. Moreover, the expression levels of interleukin-1 beta and nuclear factor-kappa B were decreased. These findings suggest that the use of an antioxidant compound associated with a cholinergic neurotransmission enhancer could represent an approach for treating brain disorders characterized by neuroinflammation and vascular impairment.