Protective effect of tert-butylhydroquinone on cerebral inflammatory response following traumatic brain injury in mice.

Abstract

AIM:

Antioxidant transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) has been shown in our previous studies to play a crucial role in protection against TBI induced inflammatory response in the brain. The objective of this study was to test whether tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ), a novel Nrf2 activator, can protect mice brain against TBI-induced inflammatory damage.

METHODS:

Adult male ICR mice were randomly divided into three groups: (1) sham+vehicle group; (2) TBI+vehicle group; and (3) TBI+tBHQ group (n=12 per group). Closed head injury was adopted using Hall's weight-dropping method. We measured Nrf2 and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) binding activities by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), concentrations of tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), brain oedema by wet/dry weight method, and cortical apoptosis by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) analysis.

RESULTS:

Induction of the Nrf2 activity by tBHQ markedly decreased NF-κB activation and inflammatory cytokine production in the injured brain. Administration of tBHQ also significantly attenuated TBI-induced brain oedema and cortical apoptosis.

CONCLUSION:

Pre-treatment with tBHQ could attenuate the cerebral inflammatory response after TBI.

• Authors: Wei Jin, Jie Kong, Handong Wang, Jun Wu, Tianyu Lu, Jian Jiang, Hongbin Ni, Weibang Liang
• Journal: Injury (Injury) Vol. 42 Issue 7 Pg. 714-8 (Jul 2011) ISSN: 1879-0267 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 21466884 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Hydroquinones
• NF-E2-Related Factor 2
• Neuroprotective Agents
• 2-tert-butylhydroquinone

Topics

• Animals
• Brain Injuries (complications)
• Cerebral Cortex (drug effects, metabolism)
• Encephalitis (drug therapy, etiology)
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
• Hydroquinones (administration & dosage)
• Male
• Mice
• NF-E2-Related Factor 2 (physiology)
• Neuroprotective Agents (administration & dosage)
• Random Allocation
• Up-Regulation