Nrf2 Regulates Microglia-Mediated Phagocytosis and Neuroinflammation Following Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Abstract

Background To explore the effect of microglial functional transformation in hematoma clearance following intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and investigate whether Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) -mediated microglial phagocytosis and inflammatory response is beneficial for hematoma clearance and functional recovery in vitro and in vivo experiments after ICH. Methods In vitro experiments, BV-2 cells were cultured and randomly divided into 4 groups: normal control, microglia + Nrf2-siRNA (100 nmol/L), microglia + monascin (15 µM), microglia + Xuezhikang (200 µg/mL). In vivo experiments, 42 mice were divided into sham, ICH+vehicle, ICH+Nrf2-/-, ICH+monascin (10mg/kg/day, twice) and ICH+Xuezhikang (0.2g/kg/day, twice). Neurologic scores, hemoglobin levels, microglial phagocytosis, brain expression of CD80 /Trem1/TNF-α (pro-inflammatory cytokines) as well as CD206/Trem2/BDNF (anti-inflammatory cytokines) were analyzed at 72 hours after surgery. Results The results showed that Nrf2 agonists improved neurological deficits and decreased hemoglobin levels after ICH. The administration of Nrf2 agonist- monascin/ Xuezhikang enhanced microglia-mediated phagocytosis of erythrocytes and bioparticles by up-regulating Nrf2. Alternatively, monascin/Xuezhikang promoted the expressions of Triggering receptor II expressed on myeloid cells (Trem2), CD206 and BDNF, while inhibited the expressions of Trem1,CD80 and TNF-αexpressed in microglia. Conversely, Nrf2 inhibition (Nrf2 siRNA or Nrf2-/-) showed the opposite results following ICH. Conclusions Microglial functional transformation are involved in hematoma clearance following ICH. Nrf2 activation contributes to microglial functional transformation and phagocytic responses then exerts its neuroprotection after ICH. Nrf2 activator (Monascin/Xuezhikang) enhances hematoma clearance and alleviates neuroinflammation via the regulation of microglial functional alteration following ICH.