Resveratrol pretreatment attenuates traumatic brain injury in rats by suppressing NLRP3 inflammasome activation via SIRT1

The inflammatory response in the cerebral cortex serves an important role in the progression of secondary injury following traumatic brain injury (TBI). The NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is necessary for initiating inflammation and is involved in various central nervous system disorders. The aim of the present study was to investigate the neuroprotective effect of resveratrol and elucidate the underlying mechanisms of resveratrol associated regulation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in TBI. The results demonstrated that the activation of NLRP3, caspase‑1 and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), enhanced the production of inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species (ROS) following TBI. Administration of resveratrol alleviated the degree of TBI, as evidenced by the reduced neuron‑specific enolase (NSE) and brain water content (WBC). Resveratrol pretreatment also inhibited the activation of NLRP3 and caspase‑1, and reduced the production of inflammatory cytokines and ROS. In addition, resveratrol further promoted SIRT1 activation. Furthermore, the suppressing effect of resveratrol on the NLRP3 inflammasome and ROS was blocked by the SIRT1 inhibitor, sirtinol. The results revealed that the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and the subsequent inflammatory responses in the cerebral cortex were involved in the process of TBI. Resveratrol may attenuate the inflammatory response and relieve TBI by reducing ROS production and inhibiting NLRP3 activation. The effect of resveratrol on NLRP3 inflammasome and ROS may also be SIRT1 dependent.