Galectin-3 activates microglia and promotes neurological impairment via NLRP3/pyroptosis pathway following traumatic brain injury.

Background: Externally caused traumatic brain injury (TBI) poses a woeful worldwide health concern, bringing about disability, death, and prolonged neurological impairment. Increased galectin-3 levels have been linked to unfavorable outcomes in several neurological conditions. This study explores the role of galectin-3 in TBI, specifically examining its contribution to neuroinflammation.

Methods: BV2 microglia cells treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and a mouse model of TBI were applied to investigate the impact of galectin-3 on neuroinflammation following TBI. Western blotting and immunofluorescence labeling were applied for evaluating protein levels and colocalization. Adeno-associated virus (AAV) that targets microglia was used to knock down galectin-3 in microglia. Nissl staining and the modified neurologic severity score were employed in evaluating neural survival and neurological function, and the cognitive impairment following TBI was assessed by the Y-Maze and Morri water maze test.

Results: Galectin-3 expression was shown to rise dramatically after TBI, peaking between days five and seven. In vitro, BV2 cells treated with LPS showed reduced NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation when galectin-3 was inhibited. In LPS-activated microglia, galectin-3 inhibition specifically decreased the expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), p-NF-κB, NLRP3, Apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC), caspase-1, and Gasdermin D (GSDMD). Injection with AAV containing siRNA to knock down galectin-3 in microglia was operated on mice in vivo. Following TBI, this knockdown led to reduced NLRP3 inflammasome activation, neuronal death, neurological impairments and cognitive impairment.

Conclusions: Our foundings indicate that modulating microglia-derived galectin-3 following TBI to reduce neuroinflammation could serve as a promising therapeutic strategy.