The Phytochemical Agathisflavone Modulates miR146a and miR155 in Activated Microglia Involving STAT3 Signaling

MicroRNAs (miRs) act as important post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression in glial cells and have been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we investigated the effects of agathisflavone, a biflavonoid purified from the leaves of Cenostigma pyramidale (Tul.), on modulating the expression of miRs and inflammatory mediators in activated microglia. C20 human microglia were exposed to oligomers of the beta-amyloid peptide (A beta, 500 nM) for 4 h or to lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 mu g/mL) for 24 h and then treated or not with agathisflavone (1 mu M) for 24 h. We observed that beta-amyloid and LPS activated microglia to an inflammatory state, with increased expression of miR-146a, miR-155, IL1-beta, IL-6, and NOS2. Treatment with agathisflavone resulted in a significant reduction in miR146a and miR-155 induced by LPS or A beta, as well as inflammatory cytokines IL1-beta, IL-6, and NOS2. In cells stimulated with A beta, there was an increase in p-STAT3 expression that was reduced by agathisflavone treatment. These data identify a role for miRs in the anti-inflammatory effect of agathisflavone on microglia in models of neuroinflammation and AD.