Washington, Mar 19 (ANI): A compound used in traditional Japanese medicine, honokiol (HNK), plays a role in blocking key protein in inflammatory brain damage, a new study led by Indian origin scientist has suggested.

Microglia are the first line defence of the brain and are constantly looking for infections to fight off.

Overactive microglia can cause uncontrolled inflammation within the brain, which can in turn lead to neuronal damage.

New research shows that HNK is able to down-regulate the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inflammatory enzymes in activated microglia via Klf4, a protein known to regulate DNA.

Scientists from the National Brain Research Centre, Manesar, India, used lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a molecule present on the surface of bacteria, to stimulate an immune response from microglia cells.

LPS mimics the effect of a bacterial infection and the microglia cells spring into action, releasing proinflammatory cytokines, such as TNFa.

Activation of microglia also stimulates the production of nitric oxide (NO) and Cox-2, which co-ordinate the immune response, leading to inflammation.

However uncontrolled inflammation can lead to neuronal death and permanent brain damage.

Microglial inflammation is also observed in several neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis.

The team led by Dr Anirban Basu found that the inflammatory response was mediated by Klf4, a 'transcription' factor which binds directly to DNA to enhance or impede gene expression.

The rest is here:
Japanese traditional therapy may help prevent inflammatory brain damage

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