Butein inhibits NF-κB activation and reduces infiltration of inflammatory cells and apoptosis after spinal cord injury in rats

The IKK/NF-κB signalling pathway plays a predominant role in the regulation of inflammation and apoptosis in spinal cord injury (SCI). We have previously demonstrated that targeting of the IKK/NF-κB pathway improved the recovery of locomotor function by reducing the infiltration of inflammatory cells and apoptosis after SCI in rats. Recently, the neuroprotective effects of butein have been shown via direct inhibition of the IKK/NF-κB pathway in vitro. In this study, we investigated the effects of butein on the IKK/NF-κB pathway in rats after SCI. Our results indicated that butein reduced the expression of NF-κB and activation of its inhibitor I-κBα at 24 h after injury. Treatment with butein also resulted in significant inhibition of caspase-3 activation and neutrophil infiltration. Overall, our findings demonstrated the neuroprotective effects of butein in SCI in vivo and its potential mechanism. Our results further indicated that targeting of the IKK/NF-κB pathway may be useful in SCI therapy.