Schisandra chinensis Lignans Exert Antidepressant Effects by Promoting BV2 Microglia Polarization toward the M2 Phenotype through the Activation of the Cannabinoid Receptor Type-2–Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 6 Pathway

Based on the current results, they showed that Schisandra chinensis lignans (SCL) ameliorated depressive-like behaviors in chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) mice, alleviated neuroinflammation, and improved neuronal injury. This study aimed to explore whether SCL exerted antidepressant effects through inhibiting neuroinflammation, in turn improving neuronal injury. In vitro studies revealed that SCL blocked lipopolysaccharide-increased BV2 microglial M1 but promoted the M2 phenotype. The BV2-N2a interaction model suggested that increasing the M2 phenotype of BV2 played neuroprotective effects. The current studies demonstrated that SCL up-regulated the expression of CUMS- and LPS-decreased cannabinoid receptor type-2 (CB2R) mRNA. In vitro studies showed that the transfection of BV2 with siCrn2 blocked the SCL-increased M2 phenotype via the inactivating signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) pathway, further decreasing the viability of N2a cells. Finally, the possible pharmacodynamic compounds, γ-schisandrin and schisantherin A, were indicated by AutoDuck analysis. Overall, our study showed that SCL promoted microglia polarization toward the M2 phenotype, in turn exerting neuroprotective effects by activating CB2R-STAT6 signaling further to play antidepressant roles.