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Astaxanthin Suppresses PM2.5-Induced Neuroinflammation by Regulating Akt Phosphorylation in BV-2 Microglial Cells
Kim RE, Shin CY, Han SH, Kwon KJ.. International journal of molecular sciences, 2020-09-30
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Air pollution has become one of the most serious issues for human health and has been shown to be particularly concerning for neural and cognitive health. Recent studies suggest that fine particulate matter of less than 2.5 (PM2.5), common in air pollution, can reach the brain, potentially resulting in the development and acceleration of various neurological disorders including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and other forms of dementia, but the underlying pathological mechanisms are not clear. Astaxanthin is a red-colored phytonutrient carotenoid that has been known for anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Kim, R. E., Shin, C. Y., Han, S. H., & Kwon, K. J. (2020). Astaxanthin Suppresses PM2.5-Induced Neuroinflammation by Regulating Akt Phosphorylation in BV-2 Microglial Cells. International journal of molecular sciences. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21197227
Vancouver
Kim RE, Shin CY, Han SH, Kwon KJ. Astaxanthin Suppresses PM2.5-Induced Neuroinflammation by Regulating Akt Phosphorylation in BV-2 Microglial Cells. International journal of molecular sciences. 2020. doi:10.3390/ijms21197227. PMID: 33008094.
BibTeX
@article{kim2020-33008094,
author = {Kim, R. E. and Shin, C. Y. and Han, S. H. and Kwon, K. J.},
title = {{Astaxanthin Suppresses PM2.5-Induced Neuroinflammation by Regulating Akt Phosphorylation in BV-2 Microglial Cells}},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
year = {2020},
doi = {10.3390/ijms21197227},
pmid = {33008094},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21197227}
}
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Key findings
- Recent studies suggest that fine particulate matter of less than 2.5 (PM2.5), common in air pollution, can reach the brain, potentially resulting in the development and acceleration of various neurological disorders including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and other forms of dementia, but the underlying pathological mechanisms are not clear.
- Astaxanthin is a red-colored phytonutrient carotenoid that has been known for anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects.
- In this study, we demonstrated that exposure to PM2.5 increases the neuroinflammation, the expression of proinflammatory M1, and disease-associated microglia (DAM) signature markers in microglial cells, and that treatment with astaxanthin can prevent the neurotoxic effects of this exposure through anti-inflammatory properties.
- Diesel particulate matter (Sigma-Aldrich) was used as a fine particulate matter 2.5 in the present study.
Why it matters
In BV-2 microglial cells, astaxanthin suppressed PM2.5-induced neuroinflammation by regulating Akt phosphorylation. This is a cell-based laboratory study and does not yet show a treatment, cure, or prevention for Alzheimer's disease in people.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 43/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (International journal of molecular sciences) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | International Journal of Molecular Sciences: journal h-index 426 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2020 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 4 / 7 | Cited 90 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 11.2 citations a year over 8 year(s) since 2020 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 4.1× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 40 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Kyoung Ja Kwon: h-index 30 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Konkuk University: institution h-index 383 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 33008094) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 43 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.3390/ijms21197227
- PubMed: 33008094
- Original source →
- Free full text: International Journal of Molecular Sciences →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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