Research articleNeuroprotective effect of triflusal and its main metabolite, 2-hydroxy-4-trifluoromethylbenzoic acid (HTB), in the postischemic brain

- 2-Hydroxy-4-trifluoromethylbenzoic acid (HTB) is a metabolite of triflusal.
- HTB suppressed infarct formation and neurological deficits in rat MCAO model.
- HTB markedly suppressed microglial activation and proinflammatory cytokines expressions in the postischemic brain and in BV2 cells.
- Overall neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of HTB are greater than those triflusal or salicylic acid.
- HTB has multi-modal protective effects against ischemic brain damage.

2-Hydroxy-4-trifluoromethylbenzoic acid (HTB) is a metabolite of triflusal (TF), and has been reported to exert anti-inflammatory effect. In this study, the authors investigated whether HTB has a neuroprotective effect against ischemic brain injuries. We showed that intravenous administration of HTB (5 mg/kg) 30 min before or 1, 3, or 6 h after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) reduced brain infarct to 10.4 ± 3.3%, 16.9 ± 2.3%, 22.2 ± 1.5% and 40.7 ± 7.5%, respectively, of that of treatment-naive MCAO controls, and the therapeutic time window extended to 9 h after MCAO (40.7 ± 7.5%). Furthermore, HTB suppressed infarct formation, protected motor activities, and ameliorated neurological deficits more effectively than by TF or salicylic acid (SA). HTB markedly suppressed microglial activation and proinflammatory cytokines expressions in the postischemic brain and in BV2 cells and suppressed LPS-induced nitrite production by inhibiting IkB degradation. In addition, HTB suppressed NMDA-induced neuronal cell death more effectively than TF or SA in primary cortical neuron cultures. Together, these results indicate that HTB has multi-modal protective effects against ischemic brain damage that encompass anti-inflammatory, anti-excitotoxicity, and anti-Zn2+-toxicity effects.