Huang-Lian-Jie-Du decoction drug-containing serum inhibits IL-1β secretion from D-glucose and PA induced BV2 cells via autophagy/NLRP3 signaling

Huang-Lian-Jie-Du decoction (HLJDD), a famous traditional Chinese medicine prescription with heat-clearing and detoxifying effects, has been widely used to treat diabetes, dementia, stroke, and other diseases. However, the detailed mechanisms of HLJDD against type 2 diabetes associated cognitive dysfunction (DACD) through inhibiting interleukin-1β (IL-1β) mediated neuroinflammation remain to be further elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect and potential mechanism of HLJDD on IL-1β secretion in a DACD model of BV2 cells induced by D-glucose and palmitic acid (PA). sUltra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/electrostatic field orbital well high-resolution mass spectrometry technology was used to analyze the compounds in HLJDD drug-containing serum. The cytotoxicity was detected by cell counting kit-8. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the secretion of IL-1β in BV2 cells. Reactive oxygen species, glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and malondialdehyde kits were used to detect the intracellular oxidative stress levels. The autophagy level was determined by autophagy staining kit and transmission electron microscope. The expression levels of autophagy-related 7 (Atg7), P62, LC3, nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich-containing family, pyrin domain-containing-3(NLRP3), Caspase1, and IL-1β were detected by real-time PCR, immunofluorescence, and western blotting. The Atg7siRNA was transfected into BV2 cells to produce autophagy inhibitory effect. Then the effect of HLJDD drug-containing serum on IL-1β secretion in D-glucose and PA induced BV2 cells and the potential mechanism of autophagy-NLRP3 inflammasome activation were further observed. Eighty-eight compounds were preliminarily identified in HLJDD drug-containing serum, among which geniposide, baicalin, palmatine, berberine, wogonoside, wogonin, and geniposidic acid were identified as the main prototype components of HLJDD into the blood. In this study, the DACD model of BV2 cells induced by high concentrations of glucose and PA was successfully constructed. HLJDD drug-containing serum significantly reduced the secretion of IL-1β and the activity of NLRP3 inflammasome with improving the oxidative stress level. Interestingly, the enhanced autophagy level was also found. After transfection of Atg7siRNA into BV2 cells, the effect of HLJDD drug-containing serum on autophagy promotion was reversed, but the inhibitory effects on IL-1β secretion, NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and oxidative stress were reduced. These results indicated that the inhibition of HLJDD drug-containing serum on the IL-1β secretion in D-glucose and PA induced BV2 cells was related to autophagy promotion, the decreased NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and the improved oxidative stress. Moreover, the improvement of HLJDD drug-containing serum on IL-1β secretion, NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and oxidative stress were all closely associated with Atg7 mediated autophagy promotion. Geniposide, baicalin, palmatine, berberine, wogonoside, wogonin, and geniposidic acid may be the potential active ingredients of HLJDD drug-containing serum.