Cola acuminata extract's inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome in THP-1 cells as a potential treatment option for Parkinson's disease

Abstract

Neuroinflammation has been described as one of the multiple clinical manifestations of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases (PD and AD). Moreover, it was reported that amyloid-β deposition is associated with cognitive decline in PD. Here, Cola acuminata (CA) extract was used to inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome in THP-1 macrophages in vitro. CA showed significant anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting nitric oxide (NO) release from cells after stimulation with LPS and Nigericin. Phagocytosis of amyloid-β by THP-1 cells showed that at 100 µg/ml, CA increases phagocytic activity of macrophages in vitro. Moreover, activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and subsequent treatment with CA showed a reduction of IL1-β and IL-18 cytokines release in ELISA assay. Furthermore, NLRP3, caspase-1, IL1-β and NF-kB expressions were significantly inhibited at the gene and protein levels as shown by RTqPCR and western blot assays respectively. Interestingly, colocalization analysis of activated inflammasome confirmed our results suggesting that CA disaggregates inflammasome assembly. Mass spectrometry analysis of CA has identified epicatechin, catechin, chlorogenic acid, quercetin and stigmasterol known as inflammasome inhibitors among the extract chemical constituents. Together, our results indicate that CA can inhibit inflammasome activation in macrophage, thereby opening future perspectives for PD treatment.

Keywords: Cola acuminata; Anti-inflammatory; NF-kappaB; NLRP3 inflammasome; Parkinson’s disease.