Journal
BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
Volume 176, Issue 3, Pages 400-415Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1111/bph.14537
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Funding
- National Natural Science Foundation of China [81303261, 81473521, 81274133]
- Major Scientific and Technological Special Project for 'Significant New Drugs Creation' [2012-ZX09103-201-055]
- Fundamental Research Funds for the Central public welfare research institutes of China [ZZ2014060, ZXKT17040]
- Science and Technology Development Fund of Macau Special Administrative Region (FDCT) [078/2016/A2]
- Research Fund of University of Macau [MYRG2016-00043-ICMS-QRCM]
- Beijing Nova Program [2011069]
- Foundation of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Basic Scientific Research Business Expenses [2011-CXTD-06]
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Background and Purpose Ischaemic stroke is a leading cause of death and long-term disability. Promising neuroprotective compounds are urgently needed to overcome clinical therapeutic limitations. Neuroprotective agents are limited to single-target agents, which further limit their clinical effectiveness. Due to the brain's particular energy requirements, the energy micro-environment, centred in mitochondria, is a new research hotspot in the complex pathology of ischaemic stroke. Here, we studied the effects of neferine (Nef), a bis-benzylisoquinoline alkaloid extracted from the seed embryo of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn, on ischaemic stroke and its underlying mitochondrial protective mechanisms. Experimental Approach Rats with permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO)-induced focal cerebral ischaemia and tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-injured PC12 cells were used to investigate the neuroprotective effects of Nef, particularly with regard to energy micro-environment regulation by mitochondria and its mechanism in vivo and in vitro. Key Results Nef protected t-BHP-injured PC12 cells in vitro and ameliorated neurological score, infarct volume, regional cerebral blood flow, cerebral microstructure and oxidant-related enzyme deficits in pMCAO rats in vivo. Nef also prevented mitochondrial dysfunction both in vivo and in vitro. The underlying mechanism of the mitochondrial protective effect of Nef might be attributed to the increased translocation of Nrf2 to the nucleus. Furthermore, the translocation of Nrf2 to nucleus was also decreased by sequestosome 1 (p62) knockdown. Conclusions and Implications Our results demonstrated that Nef might have therapeutic potential for ischaemic stroke and may exert its protective role through mitochondrial protection. This protection might be attributed to the modulation of Nrf2 signalling.
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