| Research background and purpose:Spinal cord injury(SCI)refers to a condition where the spinal cord is damaged,leading to the inability of nerve signals to be transmitted properly.The main cause of SCI is various forms of trauma.SCI can cause severe damage and death of nerve cells and fibers,which can occur in any part of the spinal cord,leading to different types of neurological dysfunction and paralysis in different parts of the body.SCI can be classified into primary and secondary injury,with different mechanisms of injury.Primary injury is caused by direct trauma to the spinal cord tissue by external forces,while secondary injury is caused by factors such as inflammation,ischemia-reperfusion injury,free radicals and oxidative stress,apoptosis,and other factors that cause further damage to nerve tissue.Primary SCI is usually irreversible because the damaged nerve cells and fibers cannot regenerate and repair.Therefore,the focus of treatment for primary SCI is to take measures to alleviate symptoms and prevent the occurrence of secondary injury.Prevention and alleviation of secondary SCI are of great significance in reducing the burden on families and society.Icariin is a natural compound extracted from the Icariin plant.It is considered to have multiple potential pharmacological effects,and icariin is believed to have certain antioxidant effects.Some studies have shown that icariin can reduce oxidative stress by activating the production of antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase,thereby protecting cells from oxidative damage.Some retrospective studies have also shown that oral administration of icariin can promote fracture healing,alleviate pain,and shorten recovery time,suggesting that icariin has potential in the treatment of SCI,but its specific mechanism of action has not yet been fully elucidated.Nrf2 is a transcription factor that mainly participates in regulating the body’s redox reactions and antioxidant defense reactions.Icariin is believed to improve oxidative stress,so we speculate whether icariin has potential pharmacological effects based on the Nrf2 signaling pathway to improve oxidative stress.Therefore,the aim of this study is to elucidate the effects of icariin on neuroinflammation and oxidative stress after SCI and its possible mechanisms,in order to provide a reliable experimental basis for the clinical development of SCI prevention and treatment drugs.Materials and Methods:The experiment established a rat spinal cord injury model using the Allen method,and icariin was administered by oral gavage for intervention.Behavioral assessment was performed using the BBB scoring standard after 7 and 14 days of feeding.Spinal cord tissue was taken,embedded,and paraffin-sectioned for HE staining and Nissl staining to observe pathological changes in the spinal cord.Spinal cord tissue proteins were extracted for RT-q PCR,Western blot,and cell immunofluorescence to detect the expression of Nrf2,Trx,Txnip,and Nlrp3.Differences between the groups were compared to explore the effect of icariin on inflammation and oxidative stress.Result:(1)Icariin extract can improve BBB score and kinematic assessment in the inclined plane test of SD rats with spinal cord injury.(2)The mechanism of Nrf2/Trx/Txnip and downstream Nlrp3 in oxidative stress and neuroinflammation after SCI.(3)Icariin extract can regulate the Nrf2/Trx/Txnip pathway to alleviate oxidative stress after spinal cord injury.(4)Icariin extract can alleviate neuroinflammation and cell apoptosis after spinal cord injury.(5)Icariin extract reduces neuroinflammation and cell apoptosis in SCI by regulating the Nrf2/Trx/Txnip pathway and downstream Nlrp3.Conclusion:Icariin can alleviate the damaging effects of inflammation,oxidative stress,and apoptosis on neurons during SCI by intervening in the Nrf2/Trx/Txnip signaling pathway and suppressing downstream factor Nlrp3. |
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