TY - JOUR AB - Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) can enhance the recanalization of thrombosis during the progression of cerebral infarction. Prazosin plays a therapeutic role in expanding the peripheral vasculature and regulating infarction cardiosclerosis by inhibiting phosphoinositide signaling. However, the possible mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of prazosin have not been fully explored. The purpose of the present study was to analyze the anti‑apoptotic effects of prazosin on EPCs in a rat cerebral infarction model. The results showed that prazosin treatment decreased apoptosis of EPCs. Prazosin treatment decreased the serum expression levels of the inflammatory factors, interleukin‑1β and tumor necrosis factor‑α in rats with cerebral infarctions as well as in EPCs in vitro. In addition, prazosin reduced the expression levels of Akt, NF‑κB, phosphorylated (p)‑Akt and p‑NF‑κB in EPCs and the middle cerebral artery of rats with cerebral infarction. These findings demonstrated that prazosin inhibited EPC apoptosis in the cerebral infarction rats through targeting the Akt/NF‑κB signaling pathway. In conclusion, these results indicated that prazosin has a preventive effect on cerebral infarction by inhibiting EPC apoptosis and by inhibiting the inflammatory response in vitro and in vivo through regulating the Akt/NF‑κB signaling pathway. AD - Department of Neurology, Yongchuan Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 402160, P.R. China AU - Liu,Shudong AU - Li,Wenyan DA - 2020/09/01 DO - 10.3892/etm.2020.9009 EP - 2584 IS - 3 JO - Exp Ther Med KW - prazosin cerebral infarction apoptosis inflammation Akt nuclear factor‑κB PY - 2020 SN - 1792-0981 1792-1015 SP - 2577 ST - Prazosin blocks apoptosis of endothelial progenitor cells through downregulating the Akt/NF‑κB signaling pathway in a rat cerebral infarction model T2 - Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine TI - Prazosin blocks apoptosis of endothelial progenitor cells through downregulating the Akt/NF‑κB signaling pathway in a rat cerebral infarction model UR - https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2020.9009 VL - 20 ER -