Inhibition of inflammatory cytokine secretion from mouse microglia cells by DHMEQ, an NF-κB inhibitor

Abstract Activation of microglia has been implicated in various neurodegenerative disorders, and thus the inhibition of microglial activity may suppress these disorders. Earlier we designed and synthesized an NF-κB inhibitor, dehydroxymethylepoxyquinomicin (DHMEQ) that showed anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activities in vivo. In the present research, we studied whether DHMEQ would inhibit the activation of mouse microglial cells. DHMEQ inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced activation of NF-κB in an electrophoresis mobility shift assay. It also inhibited LPS-induced secretions of TNF-α and IL-6 from mouse microglial cell line 6-1 cells.