Shugan Yangyin Granules ameliorate depressive-like behaviors in mice via the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway and its molecular mechanism
NING Jing
SU Xiaoyan
XU Xiaoran
DING Qi
HU Wenyue
TAN Xi
Abstract：Objective To investigate the ameliorative effects and underlying mechanism of Shugan Yangyin Gran-ules(SG)on the depressive-like behaviors induced by lipopolysaccharide(LPS)in mice via the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway.Methods A mouse model of depressive-like behavior was established using LPS,and behavioral tests including open field test and tail suspension test were conducted to evaluate the behaviors.Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to observe the struc-ture of the hippocampal CA1 region.ELISA and quantitative real-time PCR(qPCR)were used to detect peripheral and central inflammatory factors.Western blot was used to detect the proteins of the hippocampal pathway.BV2 cells were used to verify the anti-inflammatory effect of SG.Results SG improved the depressive-like behaviors,including reduced movement,decreased central exploration,prolonged immobility time in mice,and alleviated the disordered arrangement of hippocampal neurons and inflammatory infiltration.SG significantly inhibited the level of IL-1β in serum,as well as IL-1β,IL-6 in the cerebral cortex tissue,and downregulated the mRNA expression of Tlr4,MyD88,Rela,Nfκbl and the protein expression of TLR4,MyD88 and p-p65.The BV2 cell experiment further verified that SG could inhibit the upregulation of inflammatory factors and pathway genes induced by LPS within a concentration range that showed no obvious cytotoxicity.Conclusion SG inhibits the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway,blocks the neuroinflammatory process,and thereby improves depressive-like behaviors.
Keywords：Shugan Yangyin Granulesdepression-like behaviorneuroinflammationTLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathwaylipopolysaccharide
Publication Date：2026-01-25
Online Publishing Date：2026-03-03(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：6( 145-150 )