Complement Component C3 Promotes Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury Mediated by TLR2/NFκB Activation in Diabetic Mice

Complement component C3 (C3), a key factor in the complement system, is heavily involved in various inflammation-associated diseases. However, it remains obscure for its role in the pathogenesis of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in diabetes. A transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) model was used for cerebral I/R injury in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. Cerebral infarct volume and neurological function were measured at different times of reperfusion. Complement C3 was measured by ELISA and western blotting. It was observed that complement C3 expression was increased in cerebral I/R injury of diabetic mice, whereas complement C3 deficiency abrogated the activation and injury. Furthermore, activating complement C3 promotes TLR2/NFκB activation after I/R injury in diabetic mice, which is inhibited by of the silencing of TLR2. Taken together, our data demonstrate that complement C3 promotes cerebral I/R injury via the TLR2/NFκB pathway in diabetic mice, and regulating the complement C3/TLR2/NFκB pathway may be a novel target for therapeutic intervention in diabetic stroke.     

The TRIF-dependent signaling pathway is not required for acute cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in mice

TIR domain-containing adaptor protein (TRIF) is an adaptor protein in Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathways. Activation of TRIF leads to the activation of interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). While studies have shown that TLRs are implicated in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and in neuroprotection against ischemia afforded by preconditioning, little is known about TRIF’s role in the pathological process following cerebral I/R. The present study investigated the role that TRIF may play in acute cerebral I/R injury. In a mouse model of cerebral I/R induced by transient middle cerebral artery occlusion, we examined the activation of NF-κB and IRF3 signaling in ischemic cerebral tissue using ELISA and Western blots. Neurological function and cerebral infarct size were also evaluated 24 h after cerebral I/R. NF-κB activity and phosphorylation of the inhibitor of kappa B (IκBα) increased in ischemic brains, but IRF3, inhibitor of κB kinase complex-ε (IKKε), and TANK-binding kinase1 (TBK1) were not activated after cerebral I/R in wild-type (WT) mice. Interestingly, TRIF deficit did not inhibit NF-κB activity or p-IκBα induced by cerebral I/R. Moreover, although cerebral I/R induced neurological and functional impairments and brain infarction in WT mice, the deficits were not improved and brain infarct size was not reduced in TRIF knockout mice compared to WT mice. Our results demonstrate that the TRIF-dependent signaling pathway is not required for the activation of NF-κB signaling and brain injury after acute cerebral I/R.     

Overexpression of HSPA12B protects against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury via a PI3K/Akt-dependent mechanism

Background and purpose: HSPA12B is a newly discovered member of the Hsp70 family proteins. This study investigated the effects of HSPA12B on focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in mice. Methods: Transgenic mice overexpressing human HSPA12B (Tg) and wild-type littermates (WT) were subjected to 60 min of middle cerebral artery occlusion to induce ischemia and followed by reperfusion (I/R). Neurological deficits, infarct volumes and neuronal death were examined at 6 and 24 hrs after reperfusion. Blood–brain-barrier (BBB) integrity and activated cellular signaling were examined at 3 hrs after reperfusion. Results: After cerebral I/R, Tg mice exhibited improvement in neurological deficits and decrease in infarct volumes, when compared with WT I/R mice. BBB integrity was significantly preserved in Tg mice following cerebral I/R. Tg mice also showed significant decreases in cell injury and apoptosis in the ischemic hemispheres. We observed that overexpression of HSPA12B activated PI3K/Akt signaling and suppressed JNK and p38 activation following cerebral I/R. Importantly, pharmacological inhibition of PI3K/Akt signaling abrogated the protection against cerebral I/R injury in Tg mice. Conclusions: The results demonstrate that HSPA12B protects the brains from focal cerebral I/R injury. The protective effect of HSPA12B is mediated though a PI3K/Akt-dependent mechanism. Our results suggest that HSPA12B may have a therapeutic potential against ischemic stroke.     

Phytic acid exerts protective effects in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury by activating the anti-oxidative protein sestrin2

ABSTRACT

Cerebral ischemia reperfusion (I/R) is a therapeutic strategy for ischemia; however, it usually causes injury by the aspect of inflammation and neuron apoptosis. This investigation aims to investigate the protective effects of phytic acid (IP6) for cerebral I/R injury in vitro. PC-12 cells under Oxygen and glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) were performed to mimic cerebral I/R. IP6 was pretreated before PC-12 cells under OGD/R treatment. The data showed that IP6 activated the expression of sestrin2 in OGD/R injured PC-12 cells. IP6 inhibited OGD/R induced inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis by activating sestrin2. Besides, p38 MAPK may mediate the effects of sestrin2 activated by IP6. Therefore, IP6 can be a potential drug to prevent neurological damage in cerebral I/R injury.     

FTO inhibits oxidative stress by mediating m6A demethylation of Nrf2 to alleviate cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury

Journal of Physiology and Biochemistry - Current therapies are of limited efficacy in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Based on the important role of oxidative stress in cerebral I/R...     

Dexmedetomidine alleviates cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats via inhibition of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α

Dexmedetomidine (Dex) was reported to reduce ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in kidney and brain tissues. Thus, we aimed to study the role and mechanism of Dex in cerebral I/R injury by inhibiting hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and apoptosis. First, I/R injury models were established. Six groups were assigned after different treatments: sham, I/R, I/R+Dex, I/R+2-methoxyestradiol (2ME2) (HIF-1α inhibitor), I/R+CoCl ₂ (HIF-1α activator), and I/R+Dex+CoCl ₂ groups. Neurological function, cerebral infarction volume, survival, and apoptosis of brain cells were then analyzed. Besides, immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis were used to detect the expression of HIF-1α, BCL-2[B-cell leukemia/lymphoma 2] adenovirus E1B interacting protein 3 (BNIP3), B-cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 (BCL2), BCL2[B-cell leukemia/lymphoma 2] associated X (Bax), and cleaved-caspase3 proteins in brain tissues. I/R rats showed cerebral infarction, increased neurological function score, number of terminal-deoxynucleoitidyl transferase mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells and HIF-1α–positive cells as well as decreased neurons. Inhibition of HIF-1α can reduce the apoptosis induced by I/R, and overexpression of HIF-1α can aggravate apoptosis in brain tissue of I/R rats. Furthermore, activation of HIF-1α expression blocks the inhibitory effect of Dex on neuronal apoptosis in I/R rats. Dex may inhibit the neuronal apoptosis of I/R rats by inhibiting the HIF-1α pathway and then improve the cerebral I/R injury in rats.     

MiR-539 Targets MMP-9 to Regulate the Permeability of Blood–Brain Barrier in Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury of Brain

Cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury severely threatens human life, while the potential mechanism underlying it is still need further exploration. The rat model of cerebral I/R injury was established using middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). The rat microvascular endothelial cell line bEND.3 was exposed to oxygen–glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) to mimic ischemic condition in vitro. Evans blue was performed to determine the blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeability. Real-time PCR and western blot were performed to determine gene expression in mRNA and protein level, individually. Luciferase reporter assay was conducted to determine the relationship between miR-539 and MMP-9. The infarct volume and BBB permeability of cerebral (I/R) rats were significantly greater than Sham group. The expression of miR-539 was decreased, while MMP-9 was increased in the brain tissues of I/R injury rats and OGD/R pretreated bEND.3. Up-regulated miR-539 in OGD/R pretreated bEND.3 significantly promoted the BBB permeability. MiR-539 targets MMP-9 to regulate its expression. OGD/R treatment significantly promoted the BBB permeability in bEND.3, miR-539 mimic transfection abolished the effects of OGD/R, while co-transfected with pcDNA-MMP-9 abolished the effects of miR-539 mimic. MiR-539 targets MMP-9 and further regulates the BBB permeability in cerebral I/R injury.     

Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-γ Agonist 15d-Prostaglandin J2 Mediates Neuronal Autophagy after Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) has recently emerged as potential therapeutic agents for cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury because of anti-neuronal apoptotic actions. However, whether PPAR-γ activation mediates neuronal autophagy in such conditions remains unclear. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the role of PPAR-γ agonist 15-PGJ₂ on neuronal autophagy induced by I/R. The expression of autophagic-related protein in ischemic cortex such as LC3-II, Beclin 1, cathepsin-B and LAMP1 increased significantly after cerebral I/R injury. Furthermore, increased punctate LC3 labeling and cathepsin-B staining occurred in neurons. Treatment with PPAR-γ agonist 15d-PGJ₂ decreased not only autophagic-related protein expression in ischemic cortex, but also immunoreactivity of LC3 and cathepsin-B in neurons. Autophagic inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA) decreased LC3-II levels, reduced the infarct volume, and mimicked some protective effect of 15d-PGJ₂ against cerebral I/R injury. These results indicate that PPAR-γ agonist 15d-PGJ₂ exerts neuroprotection by inhibiting neuronal autophagy after cerebral I/R injury. Although the molecular mechanisms underlying PPAR-γ agonist in mediating neuronal autophagy remain to be determined, neuronal autophagy may be a new target for PPAR-γ agonist treatment in cerebral I/R injury.     

Gastrodin Alleviates Cerebral Ischaemia/Reperfusion Injury by Inhibiting Pyroptosis by Regulating the lncRNA NEAT1/miR-22-3p Axis

Cerebral ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury-induced irreversible brain injury is a major cause of mortality and functional impairment in ageing people. Gastrodin (GAS), derived from the traditional Chinese herbal medicine Tianma, has been reported to inhibit the progression of stroke, but the mechanism whereby GAS modulates the progression of cerebral I/R remains unclear. The middle cerebral artery occlusion method was used as a model of I/R in vivo. Rats were pretreated with GAS by intraperitoneal injection 7 days before I/R surgery and were then treated with GAS for 7 days after I/R surgery. Additionally, an oxygen–glucose deprivation/reoxygenation model using neuronal cells was established in vitro to simulate I/R injury. 2,3,5-Triphenyltetrazolium chloride and Nissl staining were used to evaluate infarct size and neuronal damage, respectively. Lactate dehydrogenase release and cell counting kit-8 assays were used to assess neuronal cell viability. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, qPCR, flow cytometry and western blotting were performed to analyse the expression levels of inflammatory factors (IL-1β, IL-18), lncRNA NEAT1, miR-22-3p, NLRP3 and cleaved caspase-1. Luciferase reporter experiments were performed to verify the association between lncRNA NEAT1 and miR-22-3p. The results indicated that GAS could significantly improve the neurological scores of rats and reduce the area of cerebral infarction. Meanwhile, GAS inhibited pyroptosis by downregulating NLRP3, inflammatory factors (IL-1β, IL-18) and cleaved caspase-1. In addition, GAS attenuated I/R-induced inflammation in neuronal cells through the modulation of the lncRNA NEAT1/miR-22-3p axis. GAS significantly attenuated cerebral I/R injury via modulation of the lncRNA NEAT1/miR-22-3p axis. Thus, GAS might serve as a new agent for the treatment of cerebral I/R injury.

     

β‐arrestin 2 negatively regulates NOD2 signalling pathway through association with TRAF6 in microglia after cerebral ischaemia/reperfusion injury

We previously reported that nucleotide‐binding oligomerization domain‐containing protein (NOD) 2 was involved in the inflammatory responses to cerebral ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) insult. However, the mechanism by which NOD2 participates in brain ischaemic injury and the regulation of NOD2 in the process are still obscure. Increased β‐arrestin 2 (ARRB2) expression was observed in microglia following cerebral I/R in wild‐type mice besides the up‐regulation of NOD2 and TRAF6. Stimulation of NOD2 by muramyl dipeptide (MDP) in BV2 cells induced the activation of NF‐κB by the phosphorylation of p65 subunit and the degradation of IκBα. Meanwhile, the protein level of Cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2), the protein expression and activity of MMP‐9 were significantly increased in BV2 cells after administration of MDP. Furthermore, overexpression of ARRB2 significantly suppressed the inflammation induced by MDP, silence of ARRB2 significantly enhanced the inflammation induced by MDP in BV2 cells. In addition, we observed endogenous interaction of TRAF6 and ARRB2 after stimulation of MDP or cerebral I/R insult, indicating ARRB2 negatively regulates NOD2‐triggered inflammatory signalling pathway by associating with TRAF6 in microglia after cerebral I/R injury. Finally, the in vivo study clearly confirmed that ARRB2 negatively regulated NOD2‐induced inflammatory response, as ARRB2 deficiency exacerbated stroke outcomes and aggravated the NF‐κB signalling pathway induced by NOD2 stimulation after cerebral I/R injury. These findings revealed ARRB2 negatively regulated NOD2 signalling pathway through the association with TRAF6 in cerebral I/R injury.     

Vitexin protects brain against ischemia/reperfusion injury via modulating mitogen-activated protein kinase and apoptosis signaling in mice

Vitexin is a major bioactive flavonoid compound derived from the dried leaf of hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida), a widely used conventional folk medicine in China. Recent studies have shown that vitexin presents neuroprotective effects in vitro. Whether this protective effect applies to the cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury remains elusive. In the present study, we examined the potential neuroprotective effect of vitexin against cerebral I/R injury and underlying mechanisms. A focal cerebral I/R model in male Kunming mice was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 2 h followed by reperfusion for 22 h. The neurological function and infarct volume were assessed by using Long's five-point scale system and triphenyl-tetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining technique, respectively. Neuronal damage was evaluated by histological staining. Extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2), c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) and p38 phosphorylation, and apoptosis were measured via Western blot at 24 h after reperfusion. As a result, systemic vitexin treatment significantly reduced neurological deficit, cerebral infarct volume and neuronal damage when compared with the I/R group. Western blot analyses revealed that vitexin markedly upregulated p-ERK1/2 and downregulated p-JNK and p-p38. Meanwhile, vitexin increased Bcl-2 expression and suppressed the overexpression of Bax in the I/R injury mice. In conclusion, the results indicate that vitexin protects brain against cerebral I/R injury, and this effect may be regulated by mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and apoptosis signaling pathways.     

Vagus Nerve Stimulation Attenuates Cerebral Ischemia and Reperfusion Injury via Endogenous Cholinergic Pathway in Rat

Inflammation and apoptosis play critical roles in the acute progression of ischemic injury pathology. Emerging evidence indicates that vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) following focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) may be neuroprotective by limiting infarct size. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we investigated whether the protective effects of VNS in acute cerebral I/R injury were associated with anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic processes. Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats underwent VNS at 30 min after focal cerebral I/R surgery. Twenty-four h after reperfusion, neurological deficit scores, infarct volume, and neuronal apoptosis were evaluated. In addition, the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines were detected using enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA), and immunofluorescence staining for the endogenous “cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway” was also performed. The protein expression of a7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (a7nAchR), phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt), and cleaved caspase 3 in ischemic penumbra were determined with Western blot analysis. I/R rats treated with VNS (I/R+VNS) had significantly better neurological deficit scores, reduced cerebral infarct volume, and decreased number of TdT mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) positive cells. Furthermore, in the ischemic penumbra of the I/R+VNS group, the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and cleaved caspase 3 protein were significantly decreased, and the levels of a7nAchR and phosphorylated Akt were significantly increased relative to the I/R alone group. These results indicate that VNS is neuroprotective in acute cerebral I/R injury by suppressing inflammation and apoptosis via activation of cholinergic and a7nAchR/Akt pathways.     

Higenamine protects neuronal cells from oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation-induced injury

Higenamine, a plant-based alkaloid, exhibits various properties, such as antiapoptotic and antioxidative effects. Previous studies proved that higenamine possesses potential therapeutic effects for ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injuries. However, the role of higenamine in cerebral I/R injury has not been fully evaluated. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effect of higenamine on cerebral I/R injury and the potential mechanism. Our data showed that higenamine ameliorated oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R)-induced neuronal cells injury. Induction of reactive oxygen species and malonaldehyde production, and the inhibition of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activity caused by OGD/R were attenuated by higenamine. In addition, higenamine inhibited the increases in caspase-3 activity and Bax expression, and inhibited the decrease in Bcl-2 expression. Furthermore, higenamine elevated the expression levels of p-Akt, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). The inhibitor of PI3K/Akt (LY294002) abolished the protective effects of higenamine on OGD/R-induced neuronal cells. These findings indicated that higenamine protects neuronal cells against OGD/R-induced injury by regulating the Akt and Nrf2/HO-1-signaling pathways. Collectively, higenamine might be considered as new strategy for the prevention and treatment of cerebral I/R injury.     

Poly (I:C) therapy decreases cerebral ischaemia/reperfusion injury via TLR3‐mediated prevention of Fas/FADD interaction

Toll‐like receptor (TLR)‐mediated signalling plays a role in cerebral ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Modulation of TLRs has been reported to protect against cerebral I/R injury. This study examined whether modulation of TLR3 with poly (I:C) will induce protection against cerebral I/R injury. Mice were treated with or without Poly (I:C) (n = 8/group) 1 hr prior to cerebral ischaemia (60 min.) followed by reperfusion (24 hrs). Poly (I:C) pre‐treatment significantly reduced the infarct volume by 57.2% compared with untreated I/R mice. Therapeutic administration of Poly (I:C), administered 30 min. after cerebral ischaemia, markedly decreased infarct volume by 34.9%. However, Poly (I:C)‐induced protection was lost in TLR3 knockout mice. In poly (I:C)‐treated mice, there was less neuronal damage in the hippocampus compared with untreated I/R mice. Poly (I:C) treatment induced IRF3 phosphorylation, but it inhibited NF‐κB activation in the brain. Poly (I:C) also decreased I/R‐induced apoptosis by attenuation of Fas/FasL‐mediated apoptotic signalling. In addition, Poly (I:C) treatment decreased microglial cell caspase‐3 activity. In vitro data showed that Poly (I:C) prevented hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)‐induced interaction between Fas and FADD as well as caspase‐3 and ‐8 activation in microglial cells. Importantly, Poly (I:C) treatment induced co‐association between TLR3 and Fas. Our data suggest that Poly (I:C) decreases in cerebral I/R injury via TLR3 which associates with Fas, thereby preventing the interaction of Fas and FADD, as well as microglial cell caspase‐3 and ‐8 activities. We conclude that TLR3 modulation by Poly (I:C) could be a potential approach for protection against ischaemic stroke.     

Therapeutic effect of Ginkgo biloba polysaccharide in rats with focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury

An araban type polysaccharide (GBPw) was purified from the leaves of Ginkgo biloba. The present study aimed to investigate the protective effects of GBPw on focal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rat brain. The results of this study demonstrated that GBPw had a positive effect on the rat brain when administered 7 days before focal cerebral I/R injury. This effect was evident with the improvements in neurological deficits, reduction in infarct volume, MDA content and the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-1β), and elevation in the SOD and MPO activities and the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10). Thus, the beneficial effects of GBPw on cerebral I/R injury may result from the reduction of oxidative stress and the inhibition of NO production and inflammation induced by I/R. The neuroprotective effects of GBPw supplement may have potential implication in the future for prevention/protection against cerebral ischemic stroke.     

Insulin renders diabetic rats resistant to acute ischemic stroke by arresting nitric oxide reaction with superoxide to form peroxynitrite

Background

The functions of free radicals on the effects of insulin that result in protection against cerebral ischemic insult in diabetes remain undefined. This present study aims to explain the contradiction among nitric oxide (NO)/superoxide/peroxynitrite of insulin in amelioration of focal cerebral ischemia–reperfusion (FC I/R) injury in streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats and to delineate the underlying mechanisms. Long-Evans male rats were divided into three groups (age-matched controls, diabetic, and diabetic treated with insulin) with or without being subjected to FC I/R injury.

Results

Hyperglycemia exacerbated microvascular functions, increased cerebral NO production, and aggravated FC I/R-induced cerebral infarction and neurological deficits. Parallel with hypoglycemic effects, insulin improved microvascular functions and attenuated FC I/R injury in STZ-diabetic rats. Diabetes decreased the efficacy of NO and superoxide production, but NO and superoxide easily formed peroxynitrite in diabetic rats after FC I/R injury. Insulin treatment significantly rescued the phenomenon.

Conclusions

These results suggest that insulin renders diabetic rats resistant to acute ischemic stroke by arresting NO reaction with superoxide to form peroxynitrite.     

Selenium Alleviates Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury by Regulating Oxidative Stress,Mitochondrial Fusion and Ferroptosis

To clarify the potential role of selenium (Se) on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, we utilized mouse middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) followed by reperfusion as an animal model and oxygen–glucose deprivation and reoxygenation (OGD/R) to treat N2a cells as a cell model, respectively. MCAO model was established in mice and then divided into different groups with or without Se treatment. TTC staining was used to observe whether the cerebral I/R modeling was successful, and the apoptosis level was determined by TUNEL staining. The expression of GPx-4 and p22phox was assessed by western blot. In vitro experiments, the OGD/R induced oxidative stress in N2a cells was assessed by levels of GSH/GSSG, malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase and iron content, respectively. QRT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA levels of Cox-2, Fth1, Mfn1 and mtDNA in N2a cells. JC-1 staining and flow cytometry was performed to detect the mitochondrial membrane potential. Se treatment alleviated cerebral I/R injury and improved the survival rate of mice. Additionally, Se treatment apparently attenuated oxidative stress and inhibited iron accumulation in MCAO model mice and OGD/R model of N2a cells. In terms of its mechanism, Se could up-regulate Mfn1 expression to alleviate oxidative stress and ferroptosis by promoting mitochondrial fusion in vivo and vitro. These findings suggest that Se may have great potential in alleviating cerebral I/R injury.

     

活血通络方对大鼠脑缺血再灌注后Cyto—C和caspase表达的干预

目的：探讨活血通络方通过线粒体途径抗大鼠脑缺血再灌注后神经元凋亡机制。方法：将大鼠随机分成假手术组、模型组、活血通络组,大脑中动脉栓塞再通法建立脑缺血再灌注模型。大鼠脑缺血再灌注6、12、24和48h不同时间点进行神经功能评分,并用原位末端标记法检测凋亡神经元,用免疫组化法检测Cyto-C、caspase-9、caspase-3阳性细胞数。结果：活血通络方对再灌注各时间点神经功能评分有不同程度的改善,能减少神经元凋亡指数和Cyto—C、caspase一9、caspase-3的表达（P〈0．01-4）．05）。结论：Cyto-C、caspase．9和caspase-3在脑缺血再灌注损伤中发挥重要作用,活血通络方能减轻缺血再灌注所致神经元凋亡,保护神经功能,其机理与抑制细胞凋亡线粒体通路有关。     

热休克蛋白A5介导的自噬在小鼠脑缺血/再灌注损伤中的作用

目的：探讨热休克蛋白A5（HSPA5）诱导的自噬在小鼠脑缺血/再灌注损伤中的作用。方法：将36只BALB/c小鼠随机分为sham、缺血再灌注（I/R）、vehicle + I/R、3-甲基腺嘌呤（3-MA） + I/R、scramble siRNA + I/R和HSPA5 siRNA + I/R组（n=6）。Sham组只进行手术操作,不插入线栓。I/R采用大脑中动脉阻塞（MCAO）60 min后再灌注24 h。Vehicle + I/R组和3-MA + I/R将5μl 0.9% NaCl或3-MA （30 mg/ml）在MCAO前30 min侧脑室注射。scramble siRNA + I/R组和HSPA5 siRNA + I/R组将5μl scramble siRNA或HSPA5 siRNA （2μg/μl）在MCAO前24 h侧脑室注射。检测神经细胞内自噬体、缺血大脑皮层（LC3）-Ⅱ/LC3-I表达、神经元损伤程度及神经功能缺损。结果：显微镜下sham组小鼠大脑皮层神经细胞形态正常;I/R组小鼠缺血大脑皮层神经元胞质中细胞器减少,自噬体形成。与sham组比较,I/R组缺血大脑皮层LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-I蛋白表达水平显著增高（P < 0.05）;与I/R组相比,3-MA + I/R组或HSPA5 siRNA + I/R组缺血大脑皮层LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-I蛋白表达明显减少（P < 0.05）;3-MA + I/R组及HSPA5 siR-NA + I/R组I/R后脑缺血性损伤及神经系统症状加重（P < 0.05）。结论：HSPA5诱导自噬可能在小鼠局灶性I/R损伤中发挥保护作用。