Predictable chronic mild stress promotes recovery from LPS-induced depression

Clinical depression is frequently comorbid with chronic inflammatory disease, and neuroinflammation is currently proposed as a key mechanism in major depressive disorders. Different from unpredictable chronic stress, which is a well-established animal model for depression, predictable chronic mild stress (PCMS), a routine stress experienced in day-to-day life, has been demonstrated to improve mood and memory. In the present study, we assess the effects of PCMS (5 min of daily restrain stress for 4 weeks) on depressive-like behavior, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and pyrin domain containing three (NLRP3) activation in hippocampus of mice subjected to peripheral immune challenge by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We found that PCMS facilitated the recovery from LPS-induced depressive- or anxiety-like behavior. Concurrent with the reversal of abnormal behavioral changes, PCMS suppressed LPS-induced proinflammatory cytokine expression, microglia activation, and oxidative stress in hippocampus. Correspondingly, PCMS inhibited LPS-induced overactivation of NLRP3 inflammasome components (NLRP3, ASC, and Caspase-1), and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) maturation. Nrf2 (nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2) signaling was demonstrated to inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome overactivation and oxidative stress. PCMS activated Nrf2 signaling and inhibited thioredoxin (Trx)-interacting protein (TXNIP) expression in LPS-treated mice. Collectively, present data suggest that PCMS, contrary to severe and uncontrolled stress, alleviated impairments of the Nrf2-TXNIP-Trx system and may contribute to inflammatory brain damage and the imbalance of cellular redox homeostasis in depressed mice. This study provides a mechanistic link to the resilience of PCMS to LPS-induced behavioral deficits. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1186/s13041-019-0463-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.