1. Academic Validation
  2. TBHQ improved neurological recovery after traumatic brain injury by inhibiting the overactivation of astrocytes

TBHQ improved neurological recovery after traumatic brain injury by inhibiting the overactivation of astrocytes

  • Brain Res. 2020 Jul 15;1739:146818. doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2020.146818.
Zhen-Wen Zhang 1 Jun Liang 2 Jing-Xing Yan 3 Yi-Chao Ye 2 Jing-Jing Wang 2 Chong Chen 2 Hong-Tao Sun 2 Feng Chen 4 Yue Tu 5 Xiao-Hong Li 6
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 College of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China; Affiliated Hospital of Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Neurotrauma Repair, Pingjin Hospital Brain Center, Characteristic Medical Center of PAPF, Tianjin 300162, China.
  • 2 Tianjin Key Laboratory of Neurotrauma Repair, Pingjin Hospital Brain Center, Characteristic Medical Center of PAPF, Tianjin 300162, China.
  • 3 Affiliated Hospital of Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Neurotrauma Repair, Pingjin Hospital Brain Center, Characteristic Medical Center of PAPF, Tianjin 300162, China.
  • 4 Affiliated Hospital of Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China.
  • 5 Tianjin Key Laboratory of Neurotrauma Repair, Pingjin Hospital Brain Center, Characteristic Medical Center of PAPF, Tianjin 300162, China. Electronic address: ytumail@vip.126.com.
  • 6 Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China. Electronic address: lixiaohong12@hotmail.com.
Abstract

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major leading cause of death and long-term disability. Although astrocytes play a key role in neuroprotection after TBI in the early stage, the overactivation of astrocytes can lead to long-term functional deficits, and the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms remain unclear. In addition, it is unknown whether the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor2/haem oxygenase-1 (Nrf-2/HO-1) pathway could elicit a neuroprotective effect by decreasing astrocyte overactivation after TBI. We aimed to study the effects of tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) in reducing astrocyte overactivation after TBI and explored the underlying mechanisms. We first established a controlled cortical impact (CCI) model in rats and performed Haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining to observe brain tissue damage. The cognitive function of rats was assessed by modified neurological severity scoring (mNSS) and Morris water maze (MWM) test. Astrocyte and microglia activation was detected by immunofluorescence staining. Oxidative stress conditions were investigated using Western blotting. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was designed to assess the level of the proinflammatory factor tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Dihydroethidium (DHE) staining was used to detect Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). Apoptosis was assessed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining. The results showed that the administration of TBHQ ameliorated motor function and cognitive deficits and decreased the lesion volume. In addition, TBHQ significantly decreased astrocyte overactivation, diminished the pro-inflammatory phenotype M1 and inflammatory cytokines production after TBI, increased Nrf-2 nuclear accumulation, and enhanced the levels of the Nrf-2 downstream antioxidative genes HO-1 and NADPH-quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO-1). Furthermore, TBHQ treatment alleviated Apoptosis and neuronal death in the cerebral cortex. Overall, our data indicated that the upregulation of Nrf-2 expression could enhance neuroprotection and decrease astrocyte overactivation and might represent a new theoretical basis for treating TBI.

Keywords

Activation; Astrocyte; Nrf-2; Oxidative stress; TBHQ; Traumatic brain injury.

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