Abstract
BackgroundInflammatory responses play a multiphase role in the pathogenesis of cerebral ischemic stroke (IS). Ruxolitinib (Rux), a selective oral JAK 1/2 inhibitor, reduces inflammatory responses via the JAK2/STAT3 pathway. Based on its anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects, we hypothesized that it may have a protective effect against stroke. The aim of this study was to investigate whether inhibition of JAK2 has a neuroprotective effect on ischemic stroke and to explore the potential molecular mechanisms.MethodsRux, MCC950 or vehicle was applied to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) mice in vivo and an oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) model in vitro. After 3 days of reperfusion, neurological deficit scores, infarct volume and brain water content were assessed. Immunofluorescence staining and western blots were used to measure the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome components. The infiltrating cells were investigated by flow cytometry. Proinflammatory cytokines were assessed by RT-qPCR. The expression of the JAK2/STAT3 pathway was measured by western blots. Local STAT3 deficiency in brain tissue was established with a lentiviral vector carrying STAT3 shRNA, and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays were used to investigate the interplay between NLRP3 and STAT3 signaling.ResultsRux treatment improved neurological scores, decreased the infarct size and ameliorated cerebral edema 3 days after stroke. In addition, immunofluorescence staining and western blots showed that Rux application inhibited the expression of proteins related to the NLRP3 inflammasome and phosphorylated STAT3 (P-STAT3) in neurons and microglia/macrophages. Furthermore, Rux administration inhibited the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IFN-γ, HMGB1, IL-1β, IL-2, and IL-6, suggesting that Rux may alleviate IS injury by inhibiting proinflammatory reactions via JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway regulation. Infiltrating macrophages, B, T, cells were also reduced by Rux. Local STAT3 deficiency in brain tissue decreased histone H3 and H4 acetylation on the NLRP3 promoter and NLRP3 inflammasome component expression, indicating that the NLRP3 inflammasome may be directly regulated by STAT3 signaling. Rux application suppressed lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced NLRP3 inflammasome secretion and JAK2/STAT3 pathway activation in the OGD/R model in vitro.ConclusionJAK2 inhibition by Rux in MCAO mice decreased STAT3 phosphorylation, thus inhibiting the expression of downstream proinflammatory cytokines and the acetylation of histones H3 and H4 on the NLRP3 promoter, resulting in the downregulation of NLRP3 inflammasome expression.
Highlights
Stroke is known to be one of the leading causes of disability and death [1]
Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) decreased acetylated histone H3 (ac-H3) and acetylated histone H4 (ac-H4) levels on the Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) promoter and the expression of NLRP3. These findings indicated that Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) inhibition by Rux in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) mice decreased the phosphorylation of STAT3, inhibiting downstream proinflammatory cytokines and acetylation of H3 and H4 on the NLRP3 promoter, resulting in a limitation of NLRP3 inflammasome activation
These results suggest that the cytokine storm induced by proinflammatory cytokines is partially inhibited by NLRP3 inflammasome suppression resulting from the inhibition of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway
Summary
Stroke is known to be one of the leading causes of disability and death [1]. The most common type of stroke is ischemic stroke (IS); the pathogenesis of IS is not fully clear, and treatment is limited. It is well known that neurons and microglia/macrophages play important roles in the production of proinflammatory cytokines and in the inflammatory cascades triggered by IS [2]. Previous evidence suggests that cerebral ischemia leads to cell death, including neurons, which secrete inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species, eventually leading to the activation and infiltration of microglia/ macrophages [3]. Inflammatory cytokines simultaneously promote the entry of leukocytes into brain tissue, generating an inflammatory cascade response that causes activated microglia and infiltrating leukocytes to produce more inflammatory mediators, such as the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLPR3) inflammasome, which cause brain edema and hemorrhage, increase blood-brain barrier damage, and promote more neuronal death [3]. Inflammatory responses play a multiphase role in the pathogenesis of cerebral ischemic stroke (IS). The aim of this study was to investigate whether inhibition of JAK2 has a neuroprotective effect on ischemic stroke and to explore the potential molecular mechanisms
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