Resveratrol improves neurological outcome and neuroinflammation following spinal cord injury through enhancing autophagy involving the AMPK/mTOR pathway

Meng,Hong‑Yu; Shao,De‑Cheng; Li,Han; Huang,Xiao‑Dan; Yang,Guang; Xu,Bing; Niu,Hai‑Yun

doi:10.3892/mmr.2018.9194

Resveratrol improves neurological outcome and neuroinflammation following spinal cord injury through enhancing autophagy involving the AMPK/mTOR pathway

Authors:
- Hong‑Yu Meng
- De‑Cheng Shao
- Han Li
- Xiao‑Dan Huang
- Guang Yang
- Bing Xu
- Hai‑Yun Niu
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Affiliations: Department of Orthopedics, and Key Laboratory of Orthopedic Biomechanics of Hebei Province, Orthopedic Research Institution of Hebei Province, The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050051, P.R. China
Published online on: June 19, 2018 https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2018.9194
Pages: 2237-2244

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Abstract

Resveratrol, a natural phenolic compound, provides neuroprotective effects, however, the specific mechanisms of action remain to be elucidated. The purpose of the present study was to examine the neuroprotective effect of resveratrol on spinal cord injury (SCI) and the potential molecular mechanisms of action. A rat model of SCI was induced using Allen's method, and resveratrol (100 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected 1 day following surgery. The recovery of neurological function was assessed using the Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan scoring system and an inclined plane test. The concentrations of pro‑ and anti‑inflammatory factors were measured using ELISA. The expression and location of autophagy markers were measured using western blot and immunofluorescence analyses. The results suggested that resveratrol administration resulted in functional improvement of locomotor activity and reduced neuroinflammation following the induction of SCI. In addition, autophagy was activated following SCI, as demonstrated by the significantly increased ratio of microtubule‑associated protein light chain 3 (LC3)‑II/LC3‑I and expression of Beclin‑1 in the injured spinal cord. Of note, the enhancement of phosphorylated (p)‑AMP‑activated protein kinase (AMPK) and the reduction of p‑mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) following SCI indicated that the SCI‑induced activation of autophagy was associated with the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway. Resveratrol treatment further enhanced the activation of autophagy via the AMPK/mTOR pathway following SCI. By contrast, the autophagic inhibitor, 3‑methyladenine, partially inhibited the neuroprotective effects of resveratrol treatment. Together, these findings suggested that resveratrol promoted functional recovery and inhibited neuroinflammation through the activation of autophagy mediated by the AMPK/mTOR pathway following SCI.

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