# Naringenin Ameliorates LPS-Induced Neuroinflammation Through NF-κB Signaling in Human Microglia and Protects Neuronal Cells

**Authors:** Shahzada Mudasir Rashid, Antonisamy William James, Faheem Shehjar, Shahid Yousuf, Zahoor A. Shah

PMC · DOI: 10.3390/brainsci16020215 · Brain Sciences · 2026-02-11

## TL;DR

Naringenin, a citrus flavonoid, reduces neuroinflammation by blocking NF-κB signaling in microglial cells and protecting neurons from inflammation.

## Contribution

This study demonstrates naringenin's novel anti-neuroinflammatory effects via NF-κB suppression in human microglia and neuronal protection.

## Key findings

- Naringenin reduces ROS and proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β) in LPS-treated microglial cells.
- Naringenin inhibits NF-κB activation and nuclear translocation in microglia.
- Naringenin protects neuronal cells from inflammatory microglial secretome.

## Abstract

What are the main findings?
Naringenin significantly attenuates LPS-induced neuroinflammation by reducing ROS generation and proinflammatory cytokine (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β) expression in human microglial cells.Naringenin suppresses NF-κB activation and nuclear translocation in microglia, thereby protecting neuronal cells exposed to an inflammatory microglial secretome.

Naringenin significantly attenuates LPS-induced neuroinflammation by reducing ROS generation and proinflammatory cytokine (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β) expression in human microglial cells.

Naringenin suppresses NF-κB activation and nuclear translocation in microglia, thereby protecting neuronal cells exposed to an inflammatory microglial secretome.

What are the implications of the main findings?
Targeting microglial NF-κB signaling with dietary flavonoids such as naringenin represents a promising strategy to mitigate neuroinflammation-driven neuronal damage.These findings support the therapeutic potential of naringenin for preventing or slowing neuroinflammatory processes associated with neurodegenerative disorders.

Targeting microglial NF-κB signaling with dietary flavonoids such as naringenin represents a promising strategy to mitigate neuroinflammation-driven neuronal damage.

These findings support the therapeutic potential of naringenin for preventing or slowing neuroinflammatory processes associated with neurodegenerative disorders.

Background: Engagement of the NF-κB signaling pathway is crucial for controlling immune and inflammatory gene expression within the central nervous system (CNS). Naringenin, a flavonoid derived from citrus fruits, is known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects; however, its impact on LPS-induced neuroinflammation in HMC3 (human microglial) and SH-SY5Y (neuronal) cell lines has not been thoroughly studied. Objectives: We sought to ascertain the neuroprotective role of Naringenin in LPS-induced neuroinflammation in microglia and neuronal cell lines with a focus on modulation of the NF-κB signaling pathway. Methods: LPS treatment was given to HMC3 cells to induce an inflammatory response, besides the secretome of HMC3 cells was transfered to SH-SY5Y cells with the administration of Naringenin. A cell viability assay, ROS level measurements, Western blotting, and immunocytochemistry were employed to quantify and localize NF-κB and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β). Nuclear fractions of NF-κB were analyzed to screen its activation and translocation. Results: Naringenin treatment led to a dose-dependent decrease in LPS-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. It significantly reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inhibited NF-κB activation in HMC3 cells. The nuclear translocation of NF-κB was notably diminished after treatment, as demonstrated by both Western blot and immunocytochemistry. These results suggest that Naringenin exerts an anti-inflammatory effect by suppressing the NF-κB signaling pathway. Conclusions: The findings suggest the potential therapeutic role of Naringenin using in vitro models in mitigating neuroinflammation through modulation of the NF-κB signaling pathway.

## Linked entities

- **Proteins:** NFKB1 (nuclear factor kappa B subunit 1), TNF (tumor necrosis factor), IL6 (interleukin 6), IL1B (interleukin 1 beta)
- **Chemicals:** naringenin (PubChem CID 932)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (taxon 9606)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** POTEF (POTE ankyrin domain family member F) [NCBI Gene 728378] {aka A26C1B, POTE2alpha, POTEACTIN}, IL12B (interleukin 12B) [NCBI Gene 3593] {aka CLMF, CLMF2, IL-12B, IMD28, IMD29, NKSF}, GAPDH (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase) [NCBI Gene 2597] {aka G3PD, GAPD, HEL-S-162eP}, NFKB1 (nuclear factor kappa B subunit 1) [NCBI Gene 4790] {aka CVID12, EBP-1, KBF1, NF-kB, NF-kB1, NF-kappa-B1}, PPARA (peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha) [NCBI Gene 5465] {aka NR1C1, PPAR, PPAR-alpha, PPARalpha, hPPAR}, TNF (tumor necrosis factor) [NCBI Gene 7124] {aka DIF, IMD127, TNF-alpha, TNFA, TNFSF2, TNLG1F}, IL6 (interleukin 6) [NCBI Gene 3569] {aka BSF-2, BSF2, CDF, HGF, HSF, IFN-beta-2}, STAT6 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 6) [NCBI Gene 6778] {aka D12S1644, HIES6, IL-4-STAT, STAT6B, STAT6C}, NFE2L2 (NFE2 like bZIP transcription factor 2) [NCBI Gene 4780] {aka IMDDHH, NRF2, Nrf-2}, IL1B (interleukin 1 beta) [NCBI Gene 3553] {aka IL-1, IL1-BETA, IL1F2, IL1beta}
- **Diseases:** carcinogenesis (MESH:D063646), neurological diseases (MESH:D020271), inflammatory cytokines (MESH:D000080424), neuronal (MESH:D009410), chronic (MESH:D002908), diminished cognition (MESH:D003072), damage (MESH:D020263), neuronal dysfunction (MESH:D009461), mitochondrial damage (MESH:D028361), death (MESH:D003643), inflammation (MESH:D007249), Neurodegenerative diseases (MESH:D019636), injury (MESH:D014947), Neuroinflammation (MESH:D000090862), Cytotoxicity (MESH:D064420), neurotoxicity (MESH:D020258), infection (MESH:D007239)
- **Chemicals:** Naringenin (MESH:C005273), DCFDA (MESH:C029569), paraformaldehyde (MESH:C003043), LPS (MESH:D008070), CO2 (MESH:D002245), water (MESH:D014867), tetrazolium salt (MESH:D013778), ROS (MESH:D017382), 2', 7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein (MESH:C065013), glycine (MESH:D005998), DMSO (MESH:D004121), flavonoid (MESH:D005419), glutamate (MESH:D018698), SDS (MESH:D012967), PVDF (MESH:C024865), Tween 20 (MESH:D011136), PBS (MESH:D007854), KCl (MESH:D011189), Texas Red (MESH:C034657), formazan (MESH:D005562), Hepes (MESH:D006531), Penicillin (MESH:D010406), glycerol (MESH:D005990), WST-8 (MESH:C476329), 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MESH:C022616), NaCl (MESH:D012965), leupeptin (MESH:C032854), 4',5,7-trihydroxyflavanone-7-rhamnoglucoside (MESH:C005274), MgCl2 (MESH:D015636), DAPI (-), polyacrylamide (MESH:C016679), Streptomycin (MESH:D013307), 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (MESH:C110400), Triton X-100 (MESH:D017830), MTT (MESH:C070243), EDTA (MESH:D004492), phenylmethyl sulfonyl fluoride (MESH:D010664), DPBS (MESH:C012939), NP-40 (MESH:C010615)
- **Species:** Escherichia coli (E. coli, species) [taxon 562], Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606], Mus musculus (house mouse, species) [taxon 10090]
- **Cell lines:** HMC — Homo sapiens (Human), Mast cell leukemia, Cancer cell line (CVCL_0003), SH-SY5Y — Homo sapiens (Human), Neuroblastoma, Cancer cell line (CVCL_0019), HMC 3 — Homo sapiens (Human), Transformed cell line (CVCL_II76), O111 — Bos taurus (Bovine), Hybrid cell line (CVCL_J079), Neuronal — Homo sapiens (Human), Hemimegalencephaly, Finite cell line (CVCL_3283)

## Full text

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## Figures

6 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12938234/full.md

## References

19 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12938234/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12938234