The role of minocycline in inhibiting the formation of glial scars through the expression of CNTF, TGF-β1, and NF-κB p65 in traumatic brain injury model rats

Year 2025, Volume: 29 Issue: 6, 2193 - 2205, 02.11.2025

Donny Wardhana , Husnul Khotimah Tommy Alfandy Nazwar Nurdiana Nurdiana

https://doi.org/10.12991/jrespharm.1796192

Abstract

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) often leads to permanent disability, with glial scar formation being a significant contributor. Despite ongoing research, effective therapies remain elusive. Minocycline, a potential neuroprotective, may inhibit glial scar formation by targeting CNTF, TGF-β1, and NF-κB p65 pathways. This study investigates minocycline's role in preventing glial scar formation in TBI rats. Sixteen rats were divided into four groups: TBI, TBI + MNO1, TBI + MNO2, and TBI + MNO3. Following a brain injury using a weight drop model, rats were treated orally with minocycline for 14 days. Cognitive function was assessed via the Novel Object Recognition (NOR) test on day 15. The brains were then analyzed using immunofluorescence double staining to examine CNTF, TGF-β1, and NF-κB p65 signaling pathways in perilesional areas. Administration of minocycline in TBI rats with a weight drop model can improve cognitive disorders after 14 days. The mechanism of minocycline in inhibiting glial scar formation is characterized by a decrease in GFAP intensity in the perilesion area of the brain through CNTF and TGF-β1 signaling pathways at doses of 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg orally. Although NF-κB p65 is not inhibited by minocycline specifically, NF-κB p65 interacting with CNTF and TGF-β1 plays a role in the mechanism of glial scar inhibition by minocycline. Inhibition of glial scar formation by minocycline promotes a permissive environment for axon regeneration, resulting in cognitive improvement after day 14. Minocycline effectively inhibits glial scar formation through CNTF and TGF-β1 pathways in TBI model rats.

Keywords

GFAP , glial scar , minocycline , traumatic brain injury

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