Study on the effects of quercetin on brain cell apoptosis and HMGB-1 and TLR-4 level in rats with encephalitis

Y.-L. Chen, H.-X. Yang, X. Wang, D.-L. Lu, X.-X. Xi, C. Yang

Department of Pathology, First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China. Pathology88@163.com

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• Infectious Diseases

OBJECTIVE: To explore the therapeutic effects of quercetin on rats with encephalitis, especially on cell apoptosis, and the levels of HMGB-1 and TLR-4.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: 32 healthy rats were equally assigned into ZC group (healthy group), NY group (encephalitis group), DJ group (60 ml quercetin group), and GJ group (240 ml quercetin group) followed by analysis of cell apoptosis, brain tissue water content, neurons, HMGB-1, TLR-4 and other inflammatory factors.

RESULTS: The ZC group showed normal neuron volume and equitable staining; compared with ZC group, NY group showed neuron volume shrinkage and chromatin condensation; the neuron and color in DJ group were slightly better than NY group; the neuron volume in GJ group increased significantly and chromatin is distributed evenly. TLR-4, IL-4, IL-6, HMGB-1 in ZC and DJ group were significantly lower than those in NY group (p<0.05); IL-4, IL-6, HMGB-1 in GJ group significantly decreased compared with DJ group (p<0.05); MMP-9 enzyme activity in ZC and DJ group was significantly lower than NY group (p<0.05) with lower level in GJ group than DJ group (p<0.05). The water content was higher in brain tissue of NY group than ZC group (p<0.05) and lower in DJ group than NY group (p<0.05) with lower level in GJ group than DJ and NY group (all p<0.05). The hippocampal neurons and cortical neurons in ZC and DJ group were higher than those in NY group (p<0.05) and elevated in GJ group compared with DJ group and NY group (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Quercetin is effective in treating encephalitis rats possibly through inhibition of neuronal cell apoptosis and level of HMGB-1 and TLR-4.

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