Effect of hydroxysafflor yellow A on COX-2/PGD2/DPs pathway in cortex of mice with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury / 中国药理学通报

ABSTRACT

Aim To observe the effect of hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) on the COX-2/PGD/DPs pathway in the cortex of mice with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. Methods C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into sham group, model group and HSYA group. Right middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion model was established in mice by intraluminal suture method. HYSA (20 mg • kg"1) was injected into the tail vein for five consecutive days before the operation. The sham group and the model group were given the same volume of normal saline. The neurological function score and cerebral infarct volume were measured 24 hours after operation. The histopathological changes of mouse cortex were observed by HE staining. The protein and mRNA expression of COX-2, DP, and DP2 were detected by Western blot and qRT- PCR respectively. The levels of TNF-a, IL-1 (3 and PGD2 were detected by ELISA. Results Compared with sham group, the scores of neurological function, infarct volume, the expression of COX-2, DP, and DP2 protein and mRNA, and the contents of TNF-a, IL-1 (3 and PGD2 in the cortex of model group significantly increased. Compared with model group, the scores of neurological function and the infarct volume significantly decreased in HSYA-treated group, and the damage of cortical cells in ischemic area was significantly improved. The expressions of COX-2, DP, and DP2mRNA and protein were significantly down-regula- ted, and the levels of inflammatory factors such as TNF-a, IL-1 p and PGD2 were markedly down-regula- ted. Conclusions HSYA inhibits the activation of COX-2/PGD2/DPs pathway in mouse brain tissues, which may be involved in the protective mechanism of HSYA in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.