Astragaloside IV Alleviates Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury through NLRP3 Inflammasome-Mediated Pyroptosis Inhibition via Activating Nrf2

Figure 1

AST IV attenuates CIRI. (a) Chemical structure of AST IV. (b) Brain tissue slices stained with TTC to visualize the ischemic cerebral infarct volume. All rats were randomly assigned to the following groups: the sham group (natural saline, 10 ml/kg), the MCAO/R group (rats given normal saline), and MCAO/R + AST IV groups (AST IV was administered on three successive days at each indicated time, MCAO/R surgery was performed 2 h after the final administration, and AST IV was administered at 24 h just after MCAO/R to achieve reperfusion). (c) Representative quantification of brain infraction volume. Scale bar, 10 mm. Values are , . vs. the sham group; ^#, ^## vs. the MCAO/R group. (d) Neurological deficit scores. Values are , . (e) Cell viability was determined with CCK8 assays. Values are , . SH-SY5Y cells were randomly assigned to the following groups: the sham group (complete medium) and the AST IV group (AST IV was administered 24 h at concentrations of 5, 10, 20, and 40 μg/ml). (f) Cell viability was determined with CCK8 assays. Values are , . vs. the sham group; ^## vs. the OGD/R group. SH-SY5Y cells were randomly assigned to the following groups: the sham group (complete medium), the OGD/R group (complete medium), OGD/R + AST IV groups (AST IV was given 24 h before OGD, OGD was performed for 2 h, and AST IV was given at 24 h just after OGD to achieve reperfusion), the OGD/R + AC-YVAD-CMK group (30 mM AYC was given 24 h before OGD, OGD was performed for 2 h, and 30 mM AYC was administered at 24 h just after OGD to achieve reperfusion), and the OGD/R + MCC950 group (1 mM MCC950 was given 24 h before OGD, OGD was performed for 2 h, and 1 mM MCC950 was given at 24 h just after OGD to achieve reperfusion). (g) LDH leakage rate was assayed using the LDH Cytotoxicity Detection Kit. Values are , . (h) Hoechst 33342 and PI staining of SH-SY5Y cells. (i) Representative quantification of PI-positive cells. Values are , .

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