Objective     To determine the effect of sulforaphane (SFN) on the proliferation of astrocytes induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Methods     Primary astrocytes were isolated from the mouse cortex and then cultured in vitro. After the cells were stimulated with 0.1 μg/mL LPS in the absence or presence of different concentrations of SFN (10

15 and 20 μmol/L) for 24 h

the cell proliferation was tested with CCK8 assay. Immunofluorescent double staining and cell cycle analysis were performed respectively in the cells treated with 20 μmol/L SFN to further verify the effect of SFN on the proliferation of astrocytes after LPS stimulation. The expression levels of cell cycle related proteins

P27kip1

Cyclin D1 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in each group of cells were determined by Western blotting. Results      CCK8 assay indicated that 0.1 μg/mL LPS promoted the proliferation of astrocytes (P0.01). Treatment of 20 μmol/L SFN inhibited the proliferation significantly (P0.01) and reduced the number of Ki67 positive cells under LPS stimulation (P0.05). Cell cycle analysis showed that 20 μmol/L SFN treatment attenuated the increment of cells in S phase and the reduction of cells in G1 phase which were induced by LPS stimulation (P0.05). Western blot assay represented that LPS enhanced the expression of PCNA and Cyclin D1

meanwhile

decreased the level of P27kip1(P0.05). Conclusion      SFN inhibits the proliferation of astrocytes induced by LPS

which may be through regulation of cell cycle.