Ozone reduces ischemic damage after a stroke by regulating the autophagy of astrocytes.

BACKGROUND

Stroke is a common and damaging disease of brain tissue, and has high morbidity, disability, and mortality rates. Ozone (O3) is an isomer of oxygen and can be applied to ozonate the isolated blood in specific containers outside the body and return it to the body. O3 can also alter the activity and function of multiple cellular components, thus affecting blood viscosity and altering hemodynamics. However, the question of whether O3 has clinical value in the treatment of stroke requires further investigation. This study sought to evaluate the protective effect and possible mechanism of O3 in brain injury after stroke.

METHODS

First, oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R)-induced human glioblastoma cell (A172) and middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rat models were established. Second, the levels of the associated ribonucleic acids and proteins were analyzed using reverse-transcription real-time-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western Blot, or immunofluorescence assays. Third, the concentration of glutamate and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were assessed using enzyme-linked immunoassays.

RESULTS

The results showed that glial fibrillary acidic protein was upregulated in the OGD/R A172 cells. O3 decreased LDH and increased glutamate levels in the OGD/R A172 cells, which suggests that O3 reduced brain damage in the in vitro stroke model. We also showed that O3 attenuated brain infarction in the in-vivo stroke model. Further, we found that O3 alleviated stroke-induced brain damage by reducing the apoptosis of astrocytes. Further, the B-cell lymphoma 2 inhibitor propofol alleviated stroke-induced brain damage.

CONCLUSIONS

Thus, O3 notably alleviated stroke-induced brain damage by inhibiting the apoptosis of astrocytes in the OGD/R-induced human glioblastoma cell and MACO rat models.