Resveratrol alleviates endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced cell death and improves functional prognosis after traumatic brain injury in mice

Resveratrol (RSV) is a polyphenol antioxidant that has been shown to have neuroprotective effects. We sought molecular mechanisms that emphasize the anti-inflammatory activity of RSV in traumatic brain injury (TBI) in mice associated with endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS). After establishing three experimental groups (sham, TBI, and TBI+RSV), we explored the results of RSV after TBI on ERS and caspase-12 apoptotic pathways. The expression levels of C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), glucose regulated protein 78kD (GRP78), caspase-3, and caspase-12 in cortical brain tissues were assessed by western blotting. The qPCR analysis was also performed on mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-1β in cortical brain tissue. In addition, the expression of GRP78 in microglia (ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1; Iba-1) and neurons (neuronal nuclei; NeuN) was identified by immunofluorescence staining. The neurological function of mice was assessed by modified neurological severity scores (mNSS). After drug treatment, the expression of CHOP, GRP78, caspase-3 and caspase-12 decreased, and qPCR results showed that TNF-α and IL-1β were down-regulated. Immunofluorescence staining showed down-regulation of Iba-1+/GRP78+ and NeuN+/GRP78+ cells after RSV treatment. The mNSS analysis confirmed improvement after RSV treatment. RSV improved apoptosis by downregulating the ERS signaling pathway and improved neurological prognosis in mice with TBI.