Inhibition of STAT3- and MAPK-dependent PGE(2) synthesis ameliorates phagocytosis of fibrillar β-amyloid peptide (1-42) via EP2 receptor in EMF-stimulated N9 microglial cells

BACKGROUND: Prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2))-involved neuroinflammatory processes are prevalent in several neurological conditions and diseases. Amyloid burden is correlated with the activation of E-prostanoid (EP) 2 receptors by PGE(2) in Alzheimer’s disease. We previously demonstrated that electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure can induce pro-inflammatory responses and the depression of phagocytosis in microglial cells, but the signaling pathways involved in phagocytosis of fibrillar β-amyloid (fAβ) in microglial cells exposed to EMF are poorly understood. Given the important role of PGE(2) in neural physiopathological processes, we investigated the PGE(2)-related signaling mechanism in the immunomodulatory phagocytosis of EMF-stimulated N9 microglial cells (N9 cells). METHODS: N9 cells were exposed to EMF with or without pretreatment with the selective inhibitors of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), Janus kinase 2 (JAK2), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and antagonists of PG receptors EP1-4. The production of endogenous PGE(2) was quantified by enzyme immunoassays. The phagocytic ability of N9 cells was evaluated based on the fluorescence intensity of the engulfed fluorescent-labeled fibrillar β-amyloid peptide (1-42) (fAβ(42)) measured using a flow cytometer and a fluorescence microscope. The effects of pharmacological agents on EMF-activated microglia were investigated based on the expressions of JAK2, STAT3, p38/ERK/JNK MAPKs, COX-2, microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1), and EP2 using real-time PCR and/or western blotting. RESULTS: EMF exposure significantly increased the production of PGE(2) and decreased the phagocytosis of fluorescent-labeled fAβ(42) by N9 cells. The selective inhibitors of COX-2, JAK2, STAT3, and MAPKs clearly depressed PGE(2) release and ameliorated microglial phagocytosis after EMF exposure. Pharmacological agents suppressed the phosphorylation of JAK2-STAT3 and MAPKs, leading to the amelioration of the phagocytic ability of EMF-stimulated N9 cells. Antagonist studies of EP1-4 receptors showed that EMF depressed the phagocytosis of fAβ(42) through the PGE(2) system, which is linked to EP2 receptors. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that EMF exposure could induce phagocytic depression via JAK2-STAT3- and MAPK-dependent PGE(2)-EP2 receptor signaling pathways in microglia. Therefore, pharmacological inhibition of PGE(2) synthesis and EP2 receptors may be a potential therapeutic strategy to combat the neurobiological deterioration that follows EMF exposure. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12974-016-0762-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.