Neuroprotective Effects of Exogenous Irisin in Kainic Acid-Induced Status Epilepticus

ABSTRACT: Elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) level is considered a crucial causative factor for neuronal damage in epilepsy. Irisin has been reported to ameliorate mitochondrial dysfunction and to reduce ROS levels; therefore, in this study, the effect of exogenous irisin on neuronal injury was evaluated in rats with kainic acid (KA)-induced status epilepticus (SE). Our results showed that exogenous irisin treatment significantly increased the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2), and reduced the levels of neuronal injury and mitochondrial oxidative stress. Additionally, an inhibitor of UCP2 (genipin) was administered to investigate the underlying mechanism of irisin-induced neuroprotection; in rats treated with genipin, the neuroprotective effects of irisin on KA-induced SE were found to be partially reversed. Our findings confirmed the neuroprotective effects of exogenous irisin and provide evidence that these effects may be mediated via the BDNF/UCP2 pathway, thus providing valuable insights that may aid the development of exogenous irisin treatment as a potential therapeutic strategy against neuronal injury in epilepsy. Graphical Abstract Our study confirmed significant anti-oxidative stress and neuroprotective effects of exogenous irisin in KA-induced SE. Moreover, the BDNF/UCP2 pathway may contribute to the mechanism underlying the neuroprotective effects of irisin.

SUBMITTER: Cheng Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8517324 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature