The Antioxidant Effects of Thymoquinone in Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/Interferon Gamma (IFNg) Activated BV2 Murine Microglia Cells

Chronic activation of microglia, the resident macrophages of the central nervous system (CNS), is implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. Disproportionate microglial activation drives a vicious self-perpetuating neurodegenerative cycle via the excessive release of reactive oxygen species and pro-inflammatory cytokines in the system. We explored the antioxidant effects of thymoquinone (TQ), a major bioactive component of Nigella sativa seed oil, in microglial activation. We hypothesized that the antioxidant properties of TQ are mediated in part by reducing the expression of proteins involved in microglia-derived oxidative stress and modulating the activity of antioxidant enzymes. In this study, BV2 cells were stimulated with E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) & interferon gamma (IFNg) in the presence or absence of TQ. To profile the effect of TQ on the global protein expression of BV2 microglial cells, two-dimensional (2D)-gel electrophoresis...