ucf-101 and Brain-Ischemia

This study was aimed to investigate the treatment mechanisms of 5-[5-(2-nitrophenyl) furfuryliodine]-1,3-diphenyl-2-thiobarbituric acid (UCF-101) in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (CIR) model rats. Total of 54 healthy male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into three groups, namely sham group, vehicle group, and UCF-101 group. The CIR-injured model was established by right middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion. Neurological function was assessed by an investigator according to the Longa neurologic deficit scores. Meanwhile, the cerebral tissue morphology and apoptotic neurons were evaluated by H&E and TUNEL staining, respectively. Additionally, the expressions of caspase 3, p-p38, and p-ERK were detected by immunohistochemistry or/and Western blotting assays. As results, neurologic deficit and pathological damage were obviously enhanced and TUNEL positive neurons were significantly increased in CIR-injured rats, as compared with those in sham group. Furthermore, the expressions of caspase 3, p-p38, and p-ERK were also significantly increased in vehicle group than those in sham group (P < 0.05). However, UCF-101 treatment could markedly weaken the neurologic deficit with lower scores and improve pathological condition. After UCF-101 treatment, TUNEL positive neurons as well as the expression of caspase 3 were significantly decreased than those in vehicle group (P < 0.05). Besides, p-p38 was decreased while p-ERK was increased in UCF-101 group than those in vehicle group (P < 0.05). Therefore, we concluded that the protective effects of UCF-101 might be associated with apoptosis process and MAPK signaling pathway in the CIR-injured model.

Topics: Animals; Apoptosis; Brain Ischemia; Disease Models, Animal; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery; Male; MAP Kinase Signaling System; Pyrimidinones; Rats, Wistar; Reperfusion Injury; Thiones

The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic efficacy and neuroprotective mechanisms of UCF-101, a novel Omi/HtrA2 inhibitor, following ischemia/reperfusion brain injury. Male Wistar rats were subjected to 2 hr of middle cerebral artery occlusion followed by reperfusion. Animals were divided into 3 groups: sham, vehicle-treated ischemia/reperfusion, and UCF-101 treatment. In the UCF-101 treatment group, rats were intraperitoneally administered UCF-101 (1.5 micromol/kg) 10 min prior to reperfusion. The rats were evaluated for neurological deficits, and brain infarct volume was assessed by 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride. TUNEL staining was utilized to evaluate the amount of apoptosis. In addition, expressions of protein caspase-8, caspase-3, FasL, and FLIP were examined by Western blot analysis. Results demonstrated that UCF-101 treatment significantly decreased cerebral infarct size by about 16.27% (P < 0.05) and also improved neurological behavior. TUNEL staining revealed that UCF-101 treatment significantly reduced TUNEL-positive cells in the cerebral cortex. Furthermore, the upregulation in the expression of FasL and the cleavage products of active caspase-8 and caspase-3 induced by ischemia was attenuated in mice treated with UCF-101, whereas upregulation of FLIP levels was increased. The present results demonstrated that UCF-101 protects against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in mice. UCF-101 provided neuroprotection in vivo, and this was correlated with regulation of Fas-mediated apoptotic proteins. Taken together, the use of UCF-101 is a potent, neuroprotective factor for the treatment of focal cerebral ischemia.

Topics: Animals; Apoptosis; Blotting, Western; Brain Ischemia; Caspase 3; Caspase 8; Cerebral Infarction; Enzyme Inhibitors; High-Temperature Requirement A Serine Peptidase 2; In Situ Nick-End Labeling; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery; Male; Mitochondrial Proteins; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Neuroprotective Agents; Pyrimidinones; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Reperfusion Injury; RNA-Binding Proteins; Serine Endopeptidases; Serine-Arginine Splicing Factors; Thiones