Salvianolate reduces neuronal apoptosis by suppressing OGD-induced microglial activation

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cell Biology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Microglia play a crucial role in neuroinflammation.
• Oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) induces a pro-inflammatory microglial phenotype.
• This phenotype contributes to neuronal injury.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the mechanism of OGD-induced microglial pro-inflammatory transformation.
• To determine how salvianolate regulates microglial polarization for neuroprotection.

Main Methods:

• Immunofluorescence and Western blot analyzed microglial phenotype and TLR4 signaling.
• RT-qPCR and ELISA measured inflammatory factor levels.
• Flow cytometry and Western blot assessed salvianolate's protective effects on neuronal injury.

Main Results:

• OGD activated TLR4 signaling and microglial inflammation, triggering neuronal caspase-3.
• Salvianolate reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and modulated antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GSH-px).
• Salvianolate inhibited TLR4 signaling, suppressed microglial pro-inflammatory phenotype, and decreased IL-6 and TNF-α expression, reversing OGD-induced neuronal damage.

Conclusions:

• Salvianolate acts as an antioxidant.
• It inhibits the pro-inflammatory phenotype of microglia.
• This action decreases ROS and provides neuroprotection against OGD-induced injury.