Neuritin has a neuroprotective role in the rat model of acute ischemia stroke by inhibiting neuronal apoptosis and NLRP3 inflammasome

This study explored the anti-inflammatory, anti-neuronal apoptosis, and neuroprotective effects of Neuritin in rat models of acute ischemia stroke (AIS).AIS was induced in male Sprague Dawley rats by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Rats were divided into sham, MCAO, MCAO+neuritin, MCAO + neuritin + PBS, MCAO + neuritin+MCC950, and MCAO + neuritin + MSU groups. Neurological score assessment, brain water content measurement, HE staining, TTC staining, TUNEL staining, ELISA, and Western blot were performed.Neuritin significantly improved the neurobehavioral score, infarct size, brain water content, apoptosis, and neuroinflammatory response compared with the MCAO and MCAO + PBS groups within 24 h after AIS. Moreover, Neuritin inhibited the protein expression of NLRP3 inflammasome, and reduced the expression of IL-18 and IL-1B, thereby reducing the inflammatory response. Meanwhile, the neuroprotection, anti-inflammation, and anti-apoptosis effects of Neuritin were enhanced by MCC950 but partly counteracted by MSU.Neuritin may reduce brain injury after AIS by inhibiting the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome and then inhibiting the inflammatory response.