Naloxone inhibition of lipopolysaccharide-induced activation of retinal microglia is partly mediated via the p38 mitogen activated protein kinase signalling pathway.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects and underlying mechanism of action of naloxone on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced activation of retinal microglia in vitro. METHODS: Rat retinal microglia primary cultures were divided into four treatment groups: untreated; 1 µg/ml LPS for 12 h; 0.5, 1.0 or 2.0 µM naloxone for 30 min before LPS; 2.5 or 5.0 µM SB203580 for 12 h before LPS and naloxone. Levels of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-1ß were determined by enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay. Western blot analysis and double immunofluorescence were used to examine activation of the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling pathway. RESULTS: LPS induced an increase in TNF-α and IL-1ß in culture supernatants, which was dose-dependently inhibited by naloxone. Naloxone also dose-dependently inhibited LPS-induced increases in phosphorylated p38 MAPK. Pretreatment of cells with SB203580 attenuated the inhibitory effect of naloxone on TNF-α and IL-1ß production. CONCLUSIONS: Naloxone suppressed LPS-induced activation of cultured retinal microglia and this suppression appeared to occur partly through the p38 MAPK signalling pathway. Naloxone may have therapeutic potential in neuro degenerative diseases characterized by the activation of microglia.