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Title: Stilbenes and anthocyanins reduce stress signaling in BV-2 mouse microglia

Author
item CAREY, AMANDA - Simmons College
item Fisher, Derek
item Rimando, Agnes
item GOMES, STACEY - University Of Cincinnati
item BIELINSKI, DONNA - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item Shukitt-Hale, Barbara

Submitted to: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/3/2013
Publication Date: 6/3/2013
Citation: Carey, A.N., Fisher, D.R., Rimando, A.M., Gomes, S.M., Bielinski, D.F., Shukitt Hale, B. 2013. Stilbenes and anthocyanins reduce stress signaling in BV-2 mouse microglia. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 61: 5979-5986.

Interpretive Summary: Blueberries contain a variety of chemical compounds responsible for bioactivity, color, taste, and other sensory properties. The bioactive “phytochemicals” present in blueberries have been reported to decrease inflammation and oxidative stress, both of which contribute to aging at the cellular level. We determined if four of these phytochemicals – pterostilbene, resveratrol, and two anthocyanins commonly found in blueberries (delphinidin-3-O-glucoside and malvidin-3-O-glucoside) would protect cultured microglia – cells that act as the immune defense in the brain – from the effects of inflammation. Microglia that were pretreated with blueberry extract or the four phytochemical components prior to exposure to an inflammatory stressor showed reductions in inflammatory molecules. However, much higher concentrations of the individual components than those found in blueberries were needed to demonstrate the effects. Therefore the protective effects of blueberries may not be due to any one component, but rather a cooperative interaction of the activity of the compounds tested and/or other blueberry compounds not tested here. These results lend further support that blueberries, or a combination of its active components, are able to combat some of the inflammatory mediators of aging.

Technical Abstract: Blueberries contain an array of phytochemicals that may decrease both inflammatory and oxidative stress. We determined if pterostilbene, resveratrol, and two anthocyanins commonly found in blueberries, delphinidin-3-O-glucoside and malvidin-3-O-glucoside, would be efficacious in protecting microglia from inflammatory-induced stress signaling. Microglia that were pretreated with blueberry extract or its components prior to exposure to lipopolysaccharide demonstrated concentration-dependent reductions in nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor-alpha release, and decreased expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2. However, much higher concentrations of the individual components than those found in blueberries were needed to demonstrate the effects. Therefore the protective effects of blueberries may not be due to any one component, but rather a synergism of the activity of the compounds tested and/or other blueberry compounds not tested here. These results lend further support that blueberries and its active components are able to combat some of the inflammatory mediators of aging at the cellular level.