Abstract W P220: Suppression of Interleukin 33 Limits Ischemic Brain Injury and Improves Functional Outcome in Murine Stroke Model

Abstract

Background and purpose: Ischemic stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide, and the treatment options are limited. Interleukin-33 (IL-33) is a newly recognized IL-1 family cytokine which signals via its ST2 receptor, and acts as a key regulator of inflammation. However, the expression of IL-33 in the brain was not well studied and its expression in ischemic stroke remains to be elucidated. In the present study, we measured IL-33 and ST2 levels and examine the correlation of IL-33 expression with brain damage and functional outcome following ischemic stroke. Methods: IL-33 expression was examined in ischemic brain hemisphere. Mice were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 1 hr using a filament model, followed by 23 hrs reperfusion. Briefly, mice were anesthetized with 1-1.5% isoflurane mixed with medical oxygen. Body temperature was maintained at 37°C ± 1.0 using a heating pad. At 23 hours after ischemia/reperfusion, mice were tested for neurological scores and were sacrificed for the estimation of IL-33 and ST2 expression. Expression of IL-33 and its receptor ST2 was monitored by ELISA, Western blot and immunohistochemistry. The neurobehavioral scores, infarction volumes, expression of NF-kB and proinflammatory cytokines were evaluated after ischemia/reperfusion. Results: We found significantly increased expression level of IL-33 and ST2 in the MCAO mice as compare to the saline treated control mice. Moreover, treating the MCAO mice with recombinant IL-33 increases the brain injury and worsens neurological deficits in MCAO mice as compare to control mice. Interestingly, increased ischemic brain damage and neurological deficits were largely abrogated in mice treated with IL-33 neutralizing antibody. Conclusion: These findings provide the first evidence that IL-33/ST2 signaling plays an important role in the pathogenesis of stroke. Moreover, IL-33 exacerbates inflammatory brain injury after ischemic stroke and treatment with specific IL-33 neutralizing antibody inhibited the ischemic brain injury. Therefore, blocking the IL-33 may represent an efficient therapy in stroke.