Sulfosuccinimidyl oleate (Sulfo-N-succinimidyl oleate) is a long-chain fatty acid that inhibits fatty acid transport into cells. It is a potent and irreversible inhibitor of the mitochondrial respiratory chain and binds the CD36 receptor on the surface of microglia. Sulfosuccinimidyl oleate is neuroprotective and alleviates stroke-induced neuroinflammation [1] [2].

Treatment with sulfosuccinimidyl oleate (20 μM and 50 μM, 24 hours) does not affect cellular viability on its own. However, exposing BV2 cells to 100 ng/ml LPS and 5 ng/ml IFNγ slightly but significantly reduces their viability, a decrease that is prevented by co-treating with sulfosuccinimidyl oleate. Furthermore, co-treatment with sulfosuccinimidyl oleate (50 μM, 24 hours) notably reduces the LPS+IFNγ-induced expression of NOS2 and COX-2 in BV2 cells. Western blot analysis confirms a significant increase in phosphorylated p38 due to LPS/IFNγ, which is mitigated by co-treating with sulfosuccinimidyl oleate (50 μM, 24 hours) [1]. In summary, sulfosuccinimidyl oleate effectively counteracts the adverse effects on cell viability and inflammatory markers induced by LPS and IFNγ in BV2 cells.

Sulfosuccinimidyl oleate (50 mg/kg; administered once via single oral gavage) significantly reduces cortical ischemic infarct size in male BALB/cABom mice subjected to the pMCAo model, showing a major reduction in brain damage compared to vehicle-treated controls, thus establishing its efficacy in this animal model [1].