LAUSR

ABSTRACT Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are caused by ethanol exposure during the pregnancy and is the leading cause of mental retardation. Ethanol exposure during the development results in the loss of neurons in the developing brain, which may underlie many neurobehavioral deficits associated with FASD. It is important to understand the mechanisms underlying ethanol‐induced neuronal loss and develop appropriate therapeutic strategies. One of the potential mechanisms involves neuroimmune activation. Using a third trimester equivalent mouse model of ethanol exposure, we demonstrated that ethanol induced a wide‐spread neuroapoptosis, microglial activation, and neuroinflammation in C57BL/6 mice. Minocycline is an antibiotic that inhibits microglial activation and alleviates neuroinflammation. We tested the hypothesis that minocycline may protect neurons ethanol‐induced neuron death by inhibiting microglial activation and neuroinflammation. We showed that minocycline significantly inhibited ethanol‐induced caspase‐3 activation, microglial activation, and the expression of pro‐inflammatory cytokines. In contrast, minocycline reversed ethanol inhibition of anti‐inflammatory cytokines. Minocycline blocked ethanol‐induced activation of GSK3&bgr;, a key mediator of neuroinflammation and microglial activation in the developing brain. Consistent with the in vivo observations, minocycline inhibited ethanol‐induced the expression of pro‐inflammatory cytokines and activation of GSK3&bgr; in a microglia cell line (SIM‐9). GSK3&bgr; inhibitor eliminated ethanol activation of pro‐inflammatory cytokines in SIM‐9 cells. Co‐cultures of cortical neurons and SIM‐9 microglia cells sensitized neurons to alcohol‐induced neuronal death. Minocycline protected neurons against ethanol‐induced neuronal death in neurons/microglia co‐cultures. Together, these results suggest that minocycline may ameliorate ethanol neurotoxicity in the developing by alleviating GSK3&bgr;‐mediated neuroinflammation. HIGHLIGHTSMinocycline inhibited ethanol‐induced apoptosis and microglia activation in the CNS.Ethanol activated GSK3&bgr; in the developing brain and cultured microglial cells.GSK3&bgr; mediated microglial activation and was inhibited by minocycline.Minocycline protected neurons by inhibiting GSK3&bgr;‐dependent neuroinflammation.