The gut microbiota metabolite butyrate mitigates MPTP / MPP + ‐induced Parkinson's disease by inhibiting the JAK2 / STAT3 signaling pathway

Butyrate (BU), a gut microbiota‐derived metabolite, has been reported to play a neuroprotective role in Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the specific molecular mechanism of BU has not been fully interpreted. This work aimed to verify the protective effects of BU against MPTP/MPP[sup.+] ‐induced neurotoxicity and explore the mechanisms involved. The results showed that BU protected against MPTP‐induced motor dysfunction and decreased tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine transporter (DAT) levels. Additionally, BU pretreatment improved PC12 cell viability and reduced MPP[sup.+] ‐induced PC12 cell apoptosis. BU treatment also attenuated MPP[sup.+] ‐stimulated oxidative stress and inflammatory response in PC12 cells. Furthermore, BU inhibited MPTP/MPP[sup.+] ‐induced hyperactivation of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling in mice and PC12 cells. Besides, a JAK2 agonist, Coumermycin A1 (C‐A1), substantially reversed BU‐mediated inhibition on JAK2/STAT3 phosphorylation in MPP[sup.+] ‐challenged PC12 cells and abated BU‐induced repression on MPP[sup.+] ‐triggered apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammatory response in PC12 cells. To sum up, BU might exert neuroprotective effects against MPP[sup.+] /MPTP‐induced neurotoxicity by inactivating the JAK2/STAT3 signaling.