Cryptotanshinone reduces neurotoxicity induced by cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury - GreenMedInfo Summary
Cryptotanshinone reduces neurotoxicity induced by cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury involving modulation of microglial polarization.
Restor Neurol Neurosci. 2021 ;39(3):209-220. PMID: 34219678
Yanfang Mao
BACKGROUND: The diterpenoid cryptotanshinone (CTS) has wide biological functions, including inhibition of tumor growth, inflammation and apoptosis. The present study aimed to explore the possible effect of CTS on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and the underlying mechanisms.
METHODS: Male C57BL/6J mice underwent transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) and murine microglia BV2 cells were challenged by Oxygen/glucose deprivation, to mimic I/R and ischemic/hypoxic and reperfusion (H/R) injury, respectively. CTS was administered 0.5 h (10 mg/kg) after the onset of MCAO or 2 h (20μM) post OGD. Infarct volume and neurological deficit were measured. Immunofluorescence, qPCR, and western blot, were performed to detect the expression of cytokines, apoptotic marker, and M1/M2 phenotype-specific genes. Flow cytometry was applied for M1/M2 subpopulation or Annexin V/PI apoptosis assessment.
RESULTS: CTS significantly reduced cerebral infarct volume, neurologic deficit scores, pro-inflammatory cytokine production (IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β), apoptotic protein expression (cleaved caspase-3) of mice after tMCAO challenge. Furthermore, CTS attenuated CD16+ M1-type and elevated CD206+ M2-type microglia in vivo or in vitro.
CONCLUSIONS: We propose that the neuroprotective effect of CTS in the I/R or H/R context are explained modulation of microglial polarization, suggesting therapeutic potential for cerebral ischemic stroke.