Isomeric 3-Pyridinylmethylcoumarins Differ in Erk1/2-Inhibition and Modulation of BV2 Microglia-Mediated Neuroinflammation

Coumarins are known for their multiple biological effects and have been estab- lished as anti-coagulative drugs for years. Furthermore, some coumarins can promote anti-inflammatory effects via the GPR55 receptor, and dual target coumarins have been syn- thesized. Anti-inflammatory drugs might be beneficial in the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders, as the inflammatory hypothesis suggests. For the current study, we compared isomeric 3-pyridinylmethylcoumarins with altered N-atom position regarding their effects on cytokine and chemokine synthesis and expression in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells. The 3-pyridin-4-yl-methylcoumarin showed the most potent anti-inflammatory ef- fects, followed by the 3-pyridin-2-ylmethylcoumarin analog. The observed effects might be mediated by an inhibition of ERK phosphorylation.