Ferrostatin-1 alleviates angiotensin II (Ang II)- induced inflammation and ferroptosis in astrocytes

Abstract

Background and purpose: Inflammation and ferroptosis in astrocytes can be induced by external injuries, which results in excessive production of inflammatory factors and further injury on neurons. Alleviating ferroptosis might be an effective way to protect the brain from external injuries. The present study aims to explore the protective effects of Ferrostatin-1 against ferroptosis induced by Angiotensin II and the underlying mechanism.

Methods: The mouse primary astrocytes were isolated from the cortices of mice. The astrocytes were stimulated using 10 µM angiotensin II in the presence or absence of 1 or 2 μM Ferrostatin-1. The gene expression levels of AT1R, IL-6, IL-1β, COX-2, GFAP, and GPx4 were evaluated using qRT-PCR. Western Blot was used to determine the protein levels of AT1R, COX-2, GFAP, GPx4, Nrf2, and HO-1 and ELISA was used to detect the concentrations of IL-6, IL-1β, and PGE₂. The ROS levels were evaluated using DHE staining and the reduced GSH level was determined using GSH detection kits.

Results: The expression levels of AT1R, IL-6, IL-1β, COX-2, and GFAP in the astrocytes were significantly elevated by stimulation with Ang II and greatly suppressed by the introduction of Ferrostatin-1 in a dose-dependent manner. The promoted ROS level and inhibited GSH level in the astrocytes by the stimulation with Ang II were significantly reversed by Ferrostatin-1. Down-regulated GPx4, Nrf2, and HO-1 in the astrocytes induced by Ang II were extremely up-regulated by the treatment of Ferrostatin-1 in a dose-dependent manner.

Conclusion: Ferrostatin-1 alleviates angiotensin II (Ang II)- induced inflammation and ferroptosis by suppressing the ROS levels and activating the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.

Keywords: Angiotensin II; Astrocytes; Neuroinflammation.