Curcumin pretreatment attenuates inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction in experimental stroke: The possible role of Sirt1 signaling

• Curcumin protects the brain from ischemic stroke-induced injury.
• Curcumin attenuates inflammation in the ischemic brain.
• Curcumin attenuates mitochondrial dysfunction induced by ischemia.
• Sirt1 signaling activation is associated with the neuroprotective effect of curcumin.

The effects of curcumin (CCM) on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury are not well understood. The aim of this study was to investigate whether CCM attenuates inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction in a rat model of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury and whether Sirt1 is involved in these potential protective effects. Sirtinol, a Sirt1 inhibitor, was used to elucidate the underlying mechanism. Rats were subjected to 2 h of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), followed by reperfusion for 24 h. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to detect infarct volumes. Neurological scores and brain water content were also assessed. Levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in the brain were detected using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Expression of SIRT1, acetylated p53 (Ac-p53), Bcl-2, and Bax was measured by western blotting. Our results suggested that CCM exerted a neuroprotective effect, as shown by reduced infarct volumes and brain edema and improved neurological scores. CCM also exerted anti-inflammatory effects, as indicated by decreased TNF-α and IL-6 levels in the brain. CCM elevated mitochondrial membrane potential, mitochondrial complex I activity, and mitochondrial cytochrome c levels, but reduced cytosolic cytochrome c levels. Moreover, CCM upregulated SIRT1 and Bcl-2 expression and downregulated Ac-p53 and Bax expression. These effects of CCM were abolished by sirtinol. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that CCM treatment attenuates ischemic stroke-induced brain injury via activation of SIRT1.