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Updated: Aug 3, 2025
Three-dimensional Confocal Analysis of Microglia/macrophage Markers of Polarization in Experimental Brain Injury
Published on: September 4, 2013
Isoliquiritigenin regulates microglial M1/M2 polarisation by mediating the P38/MAPK pathway in cerebral stroke
1The Department of Neurology, The 983rd Hospital of Joint Logistic Support Force, Tianjin City, China.
Objectives:
Regulation of microglia polarisation may be a new way to treat ischaemic stroke based on its effects on brain injury. Isoliquiritigenin (ILG) is a flavonoid with neuroprotective function. The study investigated whether ILG regulated microglial polarisation and affects brain injury.
Methods:
Here, a transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) model in vivo and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced BV2 cells in vitro were established. Brain damage was assessed using a 2,3,5-triphenyl-tetrazolium-chloride staining assay. Microglial polarisation was analysed using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and immunofluorescence assay. The levels of p38/MAPK pathway-related factors were measured by western blot.
Key Findings:
ILG suppressed infarct volume and neurological function of tMCAO rats. Moreover, ILG facilitated M2 microglia polarisation and suppressed M1 polarisation in the tMCAO model and LPS-induced BV2 cells. Moreover, ILG reduced the phosphorylation of p38, MAPK activated protein kinase 2, and heat shock protein 27 induced by LPS. Rescue study showed that activating the p38/MAPK pathway reversed the microglia polarisation induced by ILG and inactivating the p38/MAPK pathway enchanced the microglia polarisation.
Conclusion:
ILG promoted microglia M2 polarisation by inactivating the p38/MAPK pathway, suggesting that ILG has the potential for the treatment of ischaemic stroke.
