ISSN: 1449-1907International Journal of Medical Sciences
Global reach, higher impact
Int J Med Sci 2024; 21(4):644-655. doi:10.7150/ijms.90167 This issue Cite
Research Paper
Effects of Banhabaekchulcheonma-Tang on Brain Injury and Cognitive Function Impairment Caused by Bilateral Common Carotid Artery Stenosis in a Mouse Model
1. Department of Neuropsychiatry of Korean Medicine, Pohang Korean Medicine Hospital, Daegu Haany University, 411 Saecheonnyeon-daero, Nam-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Republic of Korea.
2. Department of Neuropsychiatry, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, 49, Busandaehak-ro, Yangsan-si 50612, Republic of Korea.
3. Pusan National University Korean Medicine Hospital, 20 Geumo-ro, Yangsan-si 50612, Republic of Korea.
4. Department of Korean Medicine, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, 49 Busandaehak-ro, Mulgeum-eup, Yangsan, Republic of Korea.
† Equal contribution.
Abstract
Vascular dementia (VD) is the second most prevalent dementia type, with no drugs approved for its treatment. Here, the effects of Banhabaekchulcheonma-Tang (BBCT) on ischemic brain injury and cognitive function impairment were investigated in a bilateral carotid artery stenosis (BCAS) mouse model. Mice were divided into sham-operated, BCAS control, L-BBCT (40 ml/kg), and H-BBCT (80 ml/kg) groups. BBCT's effects were characterized using the Y-maze test, novel object recognition test (NORT), immunofluorescence staining, RNA sequencing, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway and Gene Ontology (GO) analyses. The NORT revealed cognitive function improvement in the H-BBCT group, while the Y-maze test revealed no significant difference among the four groups. The CD68+ microglia and GFAP+ astrocyte numbers were reduced in the H-BBCT group. Furthermore, H-BBCT treatment restored the dysregulation of gene expression caused by BCAS. The major BBCT targets were predicted to be cell division cycle protein 20 (CDC20), Epidermal growth factor (EGF), and tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 1 (TRAF1). BBCT regulates the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction and neuropeptide signaling pathways, as predicted by KEGG and GO analyses, respectively. BBCT significantly improved cognitive impairment in a BCAS mouse model by inhibiting microglial and astrocyte activation and regulating the expression of CDC20, EGF, TRAF1, and key proteins in the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction and neuropeptide signaling pathways.
Keywords: vascular dementia, brain ischemia, bilateral carotid artery stenosis, banhabaekchulcheonma-tang, herbal medicine.
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