Pterostilbene inhibits amyloid-β-induced neuroinflammation in a microglia cell line by inactivating the NLRP3/caspase-1 inflammasome pathway.

Neuroinflammation has been known as an important pathogenetic contributor of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Pterostilbene is a natural compound which has neuroprotective activity. However, the effect of pterostilbene on amyloid-β (Aβ)-induced neuroinflammation has not been clarified. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of pterostilbene on Aβ-induced neuroinflammation in microglia. The results indicated that pterostilbene attenuated Aβ1-42 -induced cytotoxicity of BV-2 cells. Aβ1-42 induced NO production and iNOS mRNA and protein expression, while pterostilbene inhibited the induction. The expression and secretion levels of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α were enhanced by Aβ1-42 treatment, whereas pterostilbene decreased them. Aβ1-42 activated NLRP3/caspase-1 inflammasome, which was inactivated by pterostilbene. In addition, the inhibitor of caspase-1 Z-YVAD-FMK attenuated the Aβ1-42 -induced neuroinflammation in BV-2 cells. In conclusion, pterostilbene attenuated the neuroinflammatory response induced by Aβ1-42 in microglia through inhibiting the NLRP3/caspase-1 inflammasome pathway, indicating that pterostilbene might be an effective therapy for AD.