Effects of Integrin β1 on behavior and neurovascular regeneration in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury

X.-L. Li, Y. Guo, Y.-S. Zhang, Y. Zhao, L. Zhang

Department of Neurology, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China. lqvr30@163.com

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• Neurology

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of Integrin β1 on neurological behavior and neurovascular regeneration in rats with a cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rat middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was performed with a modified suture embolization method. Neurological function score of each rat was recorded. Cerebral infarct volume was calculated by Image J after TTC stain. Subsequently, behavioral tests were performed to evaluate neuronal damage, including griping strength test, corner test, cylinder test and sucrose preference test. The expression levels of VEGF, HIF-1α, Claudin5, and ZO-1 in rat brain tissues were detected by Western blot and quantitative Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR), respectively.
RESULTS: Neurological function score of the rat was remarkably decreased after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion. Anti-Integrin β1 administration aggravated neurological deficit and increased cerebral infarct volume of I/R rats. Symptoms of hemidysesthesia, dyskinesia, and affective disorder of rats were worse after anti-Integrin β1 administration in I/R rats. Anti-Integrin β1 administration downregulated VEGF and HIF-1α in rat brain tissues (p<0.05). However, no significant differences in Claudin5 and ZO-1 expressions were found before and after Integrin β1 treatment.
CONCLUSIONS: The inhibition of Integrin β1 pathway during cerebral ischemia-reperfusion aggravates the behavior and neurovascular regeneration of I/R rats. In the process of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, Integrin β1 plays a key role in the repair and protection of neurovascular units by promoting angiogenesis.

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