Neuroinflammation is associated with the progression of multiple neurological diseases. Many studies show that SIRT2 involves in multiple inflammatory processes. While, the mechanisms remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of SIRT2 inhibitor AGK2 on inflammatory responses and MAPK signaling pathways in LPS activated microglia in vitro and in vivo. The effect of AGK2 on cell viability of BV2 microglial cells was detected by CCK-8 assay. The expression of inflammatory cytokine iNOS was analyzed by western blotting and immunofluorescence. The mRNA expressions of iNOS, TNF-α, and IL-1β were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The SIRT2, phospho-P38, P38, phospho-JNK, JNK, phospho-ERK, ERK, α-tubulin, and acetyl-α-tubulin were analyzed by western blotting respectively. The interaction between SIRT2 and MKP-1 was measured by Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) assay. Double immunofluorescent staining was performed to detect the expressions of CD11b and iNOS or SIRT2 in brain tissues. We found that AGK2 could suppress LPS-induced inflammatory cytokines (iNOS, TNF-α, and IL-1β) expression levels in BV2 microglial cells. Moreover, it could effectively reduce the expression of SIRT2 and increase the acetylation of α-tubulin in LPS activated BV2 microglial cells and LPS induced mice neuroinflammation. In addition, our results showed that AGK2 could reduce the increase of phosphorylation p38, JNK, and ERK after LPS challenge. Co-IP results showed that there was no direct interaction between MKP-1 and SIRT2. However, AGK2 by inhibition of SIRT2 could increase the expression of MKP-1. Furthermore, AGK2 could inhibit the activation of BV2 microglia and expression of iNOS and SIRT2 in LPS treated mice brain tissue. Taken together, our results suggested that AGK2 might alleviate lipopolysaccharide induced neuroinflammation through regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1. Graphical abstract.
Keywords: AGK2; MKP-1; Microglia; Neuroinflammation; SIRT2.