L-arabinose alleviates diabetes-aggravated cerebral ischemic injury by repairing the blood-brain barrier via downregulating NF-κB signals

Abstract

• L-arabinose alleviates cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury in rats with diabetes. • Anti-inflammatory action contributes to the beneficial effects of L-arabinose on diabetes induced cerebral ischemia. • L-arabinose improves endothelial function dysfunction induced by inflammatory cytokines via down-regulation of NF-κB signals. • L-arabinose protects blood–brain barrier against inflammatory cytokine-induced endothelial permeability and a further increase of leukocyte adhesion. As a functional monosaccharide, L-arabinose has protective effects on metabolic syndrome, but whether it is effective for cerebral ischemia in diabetic patients remains unknown. The middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model of type 2 diabetic rats was prepared and applied to determine the effect of L-arabinose on cerebral infarction (CI) with or without diabetes. Results showed that diabetes aggravated neurological deficits, increased the volume of CI, brain edema, and blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeability after CI, which were alleviated by L-arabinose by repairing the damaged tight-junction proteins (zonula occludens 1 and claudin-5). L-arabinose could reverse the expression of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65, intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1, and tumor necrosis factor α in the MCAO model with diabetes. Conclusions: L-arabinose alleviates diabetes-aggravated cerebral ischemic injury by alleviating the destruction of the BBB via the downregulation of the NF-κB signaling pathway.