Keywords: Hypoxia inducible factor 1α; Bcl-2/adenovirus E1B 19-kDa interacting protein 3; interleukin-4; cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury.

Abstract

Background: Cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury (CIRI) is the pathophysiological basis of various cerebrovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to explore the role of HIF-1α/BNIP3 in the alleviating effect of IL-4 on CIRI in mice.

Methodology: Mice were randomly divided into sham operation (Sham), ischemia reperfusion (IR), IL-4, HIF-1α inhibitor 2ME2 and IL-4+2ME2 groups. Middle cerebral artery occlusion model was established. After 24-h reperfusion, neurologic deficit score (NDS) was given. Cerebral infarction volume and brain water content were measured by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining and dry-wet weights, respectively. Apoptosis was detected by TUNEL staining. SOD, MDA and ROS levels, and HIF-1α, BNIP3, LC3II and Beclin-1 expressions were detected through colorimetry and Western blotting, respectively.

Results: Compared with IR group, NDS, cerebral infarction volume, brain water content, apoptosis rate, and MDA and ROS levels decreased, while SOD, HIF-1α, BNIP3, LC3-II and Beclin-1 levels increased in IL-4 group (P<0.05). 2ME2 and IL-4+2ME2 groups had decreased NDS, cerebral infarction volume, brain water content, apoptosis rate and MDA, ROS, HIF-1α, BNIP3, LC3-II and Beclin-1 levels, but increased SOD level compared with those of IL-4 group (P<0.05).

Conclusion: IL-4 reduces apoptosis and oxidative stress through activating the HIF-1α/BNIP3 pathway, thereby alleviating mouse CIRI.

Keywords: Hypoxia inducible factor 1α; Bcl-2/adenovirus E1B 19-kDa interacting protein 3; interleukin-4; cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury.

A.    AFRICAN HEALTH SCIENCES OPEN ACCESS POLICY

While African Health Sciences has been freely accessible online there have been questions on whether it is Open Access or not. We wish to clearly state that indeed African Health Sciences is Open Access. There are key issues regarding Open Access needing clarification for avoidance of doubt:

1.      Henceforth, papers in African Health Sciences will be published under the CC BY (Creative Commons Attribution License) 4.0 International. See details on https://creativecomons.org/)2.      The copyright owners or the authors grant the 3rd party (perpetually and in advance) the right to disseminate, reproduce, or use the research papers in part or in full, format/medium as long as:No substantive errors are introduced in the processAttribution of authorship and correct citation details are givenThe referencing details are not changed.

Should the papers be reproduced in part, this must be clearly stated.

3.      The papers will be freely and universally accessible online in an easily readable format such as XML in at least one widely recognized open access repository such as PUBMED CENTRAL.

B. ABRIDGED LICENCE AGREEMENT BETWEEN AUTHORS AND African Health Sciences

I submitted my manuscript to African Health Sciences and would like to affirm that:

1.0  I am authorized by my co-authors to enter into these arrangements.

2.0 I guarantee, on behalf of self and co-authors:

That the paper is original, and has not been published in any other peer-reviewed journal; nor is it under consideration by other journal (s). It does not infringe existing copyright or any other person’s rights

 

That we are/I am the sole author(s) of the paper and with authority to enter into this agreement. My granting rights to African Health Sciences is not in breach of any other obligation

 

That the paper contains nothing unlawful, or libelous. Nor anything that would constitute a breach of contract, confidence or commitment given to secrecy, if published

 

That I/we have taken care to ensure the integrity of the article.

3.0  I and all co-authors, agree that the paper, if accepted for publication, shall be licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0. (see https://creativecommons.org/)