Ameliorative effects of echinacoside against spinal cord injury via inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway

Publication date: Available online 20 October 2019Source: Life SciencesAuthor(s): Shutao Gao, Tao Xu, Hailong Guo, Qiang Deng, Chuanhui Xun, Weidong Liang, Weibin ShengAbstractAimsThe activation of NLRP3 inflammasome, which initiates an inflammatory cascade and triggers inflammatory death, plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of spinal cord injury (SCI). Echinacoside (ECH) is a phenylethanoid glycoside possessing prominent anti-inflammatory effects and various neuroprotective properties in the central nervous system, but the effect of ECH on SCI was rarely studied. Therefore, the purpose of this experiment was to look into the therapeutic effects of ECH on SCI and the underlying mechanisms.Main methodsBasso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) locomotion scale, Nissl staining, and hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was employed to examine the therapeutic effects of ECH on SCI. In addition, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) in BV-2 cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharides and adenosine 5′-triphosphate were examined. The expression levels of proteins involving NLRP3 inflammasome-related pathway were measured.Key findingsThe in vivo experiment indicated that administration of ECH significantly enhanced the BBB scores, reduced the neuron loss, and ameliorated the tissue architecture after SCI. Additionally, ECH dramatically inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation in the rat SCI model. In vitro study indicated that ECH significantly reduced ...
Source: Life Sciences - Category: Biology Source Type: research