3,4-dihydroxybenzalacetone from Phellinus linteus reduces glial activation, mitigates oxidative stress and inflammation, and preserves retinal function in ischemia–reperfusion-like injury

Retinal ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury is a key pathological feature of acute glaucoma that induces oxidative stress, inflammation, and retinal glial activation, ultimately leading to retinal degeneration and neuronal dysfunction. This study evaluated the therapeutic potential of 3,4-dihydroxybenzalacetone (DBA) in protecting against I/R-induced retinal damage. DBA was tested in LPS-stimulated BV-2 microglia, in TNFα- or tBHP-treated rMC-1 Müller glial cells, and in a rat model of retinal I/R injury. In vitro assays demonstrated that DBA suppressed oxidative and inflammatory responses in microglia by reducing ROS, NO, IL-6, iNOS, and COX-2 levels. In Müller cells, DBA activated the NRF2/HO-1 pathway under oxidative stress and attenuated TNFα-induced upregulation of MMP-9 and MCP-1. Signaling analysis revealed that DBA inhibited the phosphorylation of p65 and STAT3 in both glial cell types, with additional ERK inhibition observed specifically in Müller cells. In vivo, DBA preserved retinal electrophysiological activity, as evidenced by maintained a- and b-wave responses, and reduced the expression of MMP-9, GFAP, and CD68 in the retina. These findings indicate that DBA confers partial retinal protection by modulating multiple glial-related signaling pathways and suggest its potential as a multi-target therapeutic agent for retinal neurodegenerative diseases.