Astragaloside IV attenuates cognitive impairments induced by transient cerebral ischemia and reperfusion in mice via anti-inflammatory mechanisms. (3rd February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Min; Li, Hongyan; Fang, Fang; Deng, Xueyang; Ma, Shiping
• Is Part Of: Neuroscience letters. Volume 639(2017)
• Page Start: 114
• Page End: 119
• Publication Date: 2017-02-03
• Subjects: Astragaloside IV -- Cerebral ischemia and reperfusion -- Cognitive impairments -- TLR4 signaling pathway -- NLRP3 inflammasome -- Microglial activation; Neurology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Research -- Periodicals; Neurologie -- Périodiques; Neuroanatomie -- Périodiques; Neuropharmacologie -- Périodiques; Neurophysiologie -- Périodiques; Neurology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 617.48
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2016.12.046
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0304-3940

Abstract

Highlights: Astragaloside IV significantly ameliorates cognitive impairments induced by transient cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury. Astragaloside IV regulates inflammatory responses by inhibiting TLR4 signaling pathway and NLRP3 inflammasome overactivation. Astragaloside IV attenuates cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury by suppressing the overactivation of microglia. Abstract: Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) is the main active component isolated from the traditional Chinese medicinal herb Astragalus membranaceus. Studies have demonstrated that AS-IV has neuroprotective effects in cerebral ischemic models. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of AS-IV on memory impairment induced by transient cerebral ischemia and reperfusion in mice, as well as the associated signaling mechanisms. Severe memory deficits were induced by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO) in mice as indicated in the Morris water maze test in this study. Oral administration of AS-IV (10 and 20 mg/kg, once per day, started 7 days before surgery and continued for 7 days after surgery) significantly attenuated memory impairment and neuroinflammation. Moreover, AS-IV treatment significantly reduced the expression of toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4) and its downstream adaptor proteins, including myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88), toll/interleukin-1 receptor-domain containing adaptor-inducing interferon-β (TRIF) and tumour necrosis factor receptor associated factor-6 (TRAF6), and subsequently inhibited NF-κB phosphorylation. It is well-known that cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury enhances the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and further neuroinflammation. Importantly, we found that AS-IV suppressed NLRP3 inflammasome activation by controlling ROS production. In addition, AS-IV markedly reduced overactivation of microglia and the overexpression of inflammatory cytokines in the hippocampus compared with the transient cerebral ischemia and reperfusion group. These results suggest that AS-IV might possess neuroprotective effects against transient cerebral ischemia and reperfusion partly through its anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting TLR4 signaling pathway and NLRP3 inflammasome overactivation.