Flavonoids, a prenatal prophylaxis via targeting JAK2/STAT3 signaling to oppose IL-6/MIA associated autism

J Neuroimmunol. 2009 Dec 10;217(1-2):20-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2009.08.012. Epub 2009 Sep 18.

Abstract

Maternal immune activation (MIA) can affect fetal brain development and thus behavior of young and adult offspring. Reports have shown that increased Interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the maternal serum plays a key role in altering fetal brain development, and may impair social behaviors in the offspring. Interestingly, these effects could be attenuated by blocking IL-6. The current study investigated the effects of luteolin, a citrus bioflavonoid, and its structural analog, diosmin, on IL-6 induced JAK2/STAT3 (Janus tyrosine kinase-2/signal transducer and activator of transcription-3) phosphorylation and signaling as well as behavioral phenotypes of MIA offspring. Luteolin and diosmin inhibited neuronal JAK2/STAT3 phosphorylation both in vitro and in vivo following IL-6 challenge as well as significantly diminishing behavioral deficits in social interaction. Importantly, our results showed that diosmin (10mg/kgday) was able to block the STAT3 signal pathway; significantly opposing MIA-induced abnormal behavior and neuropathological abnormalities in MIA/adult offspring. Diosmin's molecular inhibition of JAK2/STAT3 pathway may underlie the attenuation of abnormal social interaction in IL-6/MIA adult offspring.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Autistic Disorder / etiology
  • Autistic Disorder / pathology
  • Autistic Disorder / prevention & control
  • Brain / drug effects
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cerebral Cortex / cytology
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Diosmin / administration & dosage
  • Diosmin / pharmacology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Embryo, Mammalian
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / methods
  • Exploratory Behavior / drug effects
  • Exploratory Behavior / physiology
  • Female
  • Flavonoids / pharmacology
  • Interleukin-6 / adverse effects*
  • Janus Kinase 2 / metabolism*
  • Luteolin / administration & dosage*
  • Luteolin / pharmacology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Pregnancy
  • Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / chemically induced*
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / antagonists & inhibitors
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / metabolism*
  • Serine / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Flavonoids
  • Interleukin-6
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor
  • Stat3 protein, mouse
  • Serine
  • Diosmin
  • Jak2 protein, mouse
  • Janus Kinase 2
  • Luteolin