The effect of Menaquinone-4 administration on the expression of proinflammatory factors following transient global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion in the hippocampus of male Wistar rat

Many investigations revealed that the inflammatory process induced by cerebral ischemia/reperfusion causes brain damages and cognitive impairments. On the other hand, Menaquinone-4 (MK-4) is one of the important vitamin K2 types that has anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the effect of administration of MK-4 on the level of gene expression of proinflammatory cytokines following global ischemia/reperfusion in the hippocampus of male Wistar rats.

In this research, 20 adult male Wistar rats (250-300 g) were randomly selected in 5 experimental groups and studied: control (intact), sham (surgery without carotid artery occlusion), ischemia/reperfusion, ischemia/reperfusion + intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of DMSO as MK-4 solvent, treatment (ischemia/reperfusion + i.p. injection of MK-4). For induction ischemic model, common carotid occlusion was performed for 20 minutes. In the treatment group i.p. injection of 200 mg/kg MK-4 was done 20 minutes after obstruction (immediately and 2 hours after reperfusion). 24 hours after reperfusion, mRNA expression level of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 were assessed.

I.p. administration of MK-4 could significantly decrease mRNA expression level of TNF-α (p < 1.15), IL-1β and IL-6 (p < 0.001) induced by ischemia/reperfusion.

The findings of this study show that MK-4 administration following cerebral ischemia/reperfusion could diminish the expression of the pro-inflammatory factors in the hippocampus and maybe cause neuroprotective effects. Received.