Metallic gold reduces TNFα expression, oxidative DNA damage and pro-apoptotic signals after experimental brain injury

Brain injury represents a major health problem and may result in chronic inflammation and neurodegeneration. Due to antiinflammatory effects of gold, we have investigated the cerebral effects of metallic gold particles following a focal brain injury (freeze-lesion) in mice. Gold particles 20–45 μm in size or the vehicle (placebo) were implanted in the cortical tissue followed by a cortical freeze-lesioning. At 1–2 weeks post-injury, brains were analyzed by using immunohistochemistry and markers of inflammation, oxidative stress and apoptosis. This study shows that gold treatment significantly reduces the cerebral levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), oxidative DNA damage (as judged by 8-oxoguanine levels), and pro-apoptotic markers (cleaved caspase-3, cytochrome c leakage), when compared to those of controls. The data presented here points toward gold particles as a tool to modulate the cerebral response to injury.