Role of p38 MAP Kinase Inhibitor (SB239063) and Vitamin B12 against Neuroinflammation

Background: The objective of this work were to study the effect of p38 MAP Kinase inhibitor (SB239063) and Vitamin (Vit) B12 on activity of p38 MAP kinase implicated in neuroinflammation. “In the central nervous system (CNS) neuroinflammatin is a common feature of age-related neurodegenerative diseases. Proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1β and TNFα, are produced primarily by cells of the innate immune system, namely microglia in the CNS, and are believed to contribute to the neuronal damage seen in the disease”. The kinase pathways that regulate the production of IL-1β and TNFα is p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Recent studies suggest that Vitamin B12, in addition to its known role as a co-factor in myelin formation, has important immunomodulatory and neurotropic effects. Materials and Methods: Male wistar albino rats (weighing about 100-200gm) were obtained from animal house of institute divided in to eight groups each group having six animals. Neuroinflammation was induced in animals by the LPS (100µg/ml) followed by treatment with MAPK inhibitor (SB239063) alone (5mg/kg) and along with Vit B12 (0.5mg/ kg) for 30 days. Results: In the present study initially behavioral models (elevated plus maze apparatus, Morris water maze apparatus) were used to evaluate the memory of neuroinflammed rats which were followed by biochemical analysis. Conclusion: On the basis of result obtained from present study, it is observed that p38 MAPK inhibitor (SB239063) alone and in combination with Vitamin B12 is a novel therapeutic target for neuroinflammatory diseases.