Restoration of Brain Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 Alleviates Neurological Deficits after Severe Traumatic Brain Injury via Mitigation of Pyroptosis and Apoptosis.

Clinically, the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system is activated intensely in patients with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Increased angiotensin II in circulatory blood after TBI can enter the brain through the disrupted blood-brain barrier. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is an enzyme that metabolizes angiotensin II into angiotensin (1-7), which has been shown to have neuroprotective results.

Aucubin alleviates oxidative stress and inflammation via Nrf2-mediated signaling activity in experimental traumatic brain injury.

Background: Aucubin (Au), an iridoid glycoside from natural plants, has antioxidative and anti-inflammatory bioactivities; however, its effects on a traumatic brain injury (TBI) model remain unknown. We explored the potential role of Au in an HO-induced oxidant damage in primary cortical neurons and weight-drop induced-TBI in a mouse model.

Methods: In vitro experiments, the various concentrations of Au (50 μg/ml, 100 μg/ml, or 200 μg/ml) were added in culture medium at 0 h and 6 h after neurons stimulated by HO (100 μM).