Shengjiang powder ameliorates cell pyroptosis and inflammation induced by MCAO in rats through the NLRP3/Caspase-1 pathway.

BACKGROUND

This study aims to explore the effects and mechanisms of Shengjiang Powder (SJP) in alleviating ischemic stroke.

METHODS

The middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion (MCAO) model was established in rats for both the model and medication groups. Neurological function scores, TTC staining, Hematoxylin-Eosin staining and Nissl staining were employed to evaluate the preventive and therapeutic effects of SJP on MCAO in rats. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, and immunofluorescence double staining were used to detect the expression levels of biological markers related to the NLRP3/Caspase-1 pathway.

RESULTS

SJP demonstrated an improvement in brain tissue damage in rats subjected to MCAO. SJP inhibited the activation of the NLRP3/Caspase-1 pathway after MCAO in rats. Caspase-1 was primarily expressed in neurons and microglia 24 h post-MCAO in rats, with minimal expression in astrocytes.

CONCLUSION

SJP ameliorates brain tissue damage by inhibiting the activation of the NLRP3/Caspase-1 pathway, thereby reducing the inflammatory response and cell pyroptosis induced by MCAO in rats.