Targeting to miR-130b-5p/TLR4: How sodium danshensu suppresses inflammatory response of microglia in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury (CIRI) is a crucial process in the inflammatory response. Sodium danshensu (SDSS) is of protective effects in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Studies have demonstrated that SDSS administration reduces infarct volume, attenuates neurological impairment, and inhibits microglia activation in rat models of CIRI. While it is well established that miRNAs play roles in a wide range of diseases through multiple pathways. However, the mechanism by which SDSS alleviates inflammatory injury after CIRI and its potential interaction with miRNAs remain unclear. Thus, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness and mechanism of SDSS in CIRI, and to verify whether it exerts anti-inflammatory effects by affecting miRNA. Through bioinformatics analysis and experimental validation, we identified miR-130b-5p is a key gene in the CIRI process, with SDSS administration leading to an upregulation of miR-130b-5p that is indispensable for its anti-inflammatory effects. Moreover, both SDSS and miR-130b-5p reduced the expression of TLR4. Overall, the beneficial effects of SDSS on CIRI can be attributed to the up-regulation of miR-130b-5p and the inhibition of TLR4, resulting in the attenuation of the inflammatory response.