Protective effects of Zishen Huoxue recipe against neuronal injury in the neurovascular unit of rats with vascular dementia by interfering with inflammatory cascade-induced pyroptosis

Abstract

Objective

Chinese herbal formulas show considerable therapeutic benefits in dementia. This study specifically explored the protective action of Zishen Huoxue recipe on the neurovascular unit (NVU) of rats with vascular dementia (VD).

Methods

VD rat models were established by permanent bilateral common carotid artery occlusion and treated with Zishen Huoxue recipe. In vitro glucose‑oxygen deprivation (OGD)-injured NVU models were established and treated with miR-124-3p agomir or rat medicated serum. The neurological damage, histopathological changes, and neuronal injury in the rat hippocampus were assessed using Morris water maze test and histological stainings. Expression of miR-124-3p was determined using RT-qPCR. The blood-brain barrier/NVU injury, cell pyroptosis, NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and release of inflammatory factors were analyzed mainly by immunofluorescence analysis, TUNEL staining, Western blot, and ELISA. QS-21 (an NLRP3 activator) was used to verify the role of miR-124-3p/NLRP3.

Results

Zishen Huoxue recipe ameliorated the learning/memory deficits, neuronal injury, NVU insults, cell pyroptosis, activation of NLRP3 inflammasome, and extensive secretion of lactate dehydrogenase/IL-1β/IL-18 in VD rats. miR-124-3p was downregulated in VD rats but upregulated after treatment of this recipe. miR-124-3p overexpression ameliorated NVU insults, reduced cell pyroptosis, lowered NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and suppressed inflammatory responses in OGD-injured NVU models. NLRP3 inflammasome activation partly counteracted the amelioration effect of miR-124-3p on pyroptosis. Zishen Huoxue recipe could upregulate miR-124-3p to suppress pyroptosis and protect NVU function.

Conclusion

Zishen Huoxue recipe can upregulate miR-124-3p expression to repress the inflammatory cascade-evoked pyroptosis, thereby protecting against neuronal injury in the NVU of VD rats.