Evobrutinib mitigates neuroinflammation after ischemic stroke by targeting M1 microglial polarization via the TLR4/Myd88/NF-κB pathway

Abstract Background Evobrutinib, a third-generation Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor, shows great promise for treating neuroinflammatory diseases due to its small molecular size, ease of absorption, and ability to cross the blood–brain barrier. Although previous studies have confirmed s...

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Main Authors: Yixiang Jiang, Ning Wang, Jingyi Liu, Jiayi Li, Lulu Chang, Changxin Yang, Zhengyi Chen, Wei Huang, Jing Wang, Xiujuan Lang, Xijun Liu, Yumei Liu, Bo Sun, Hulun Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:Molecular Medicine
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s10020-025-01203-8
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author Yixiang Jiang
Ning Wang
Jingyi Liu
Jiayi Li
Lulu Chang
Changxin Yang
Zhengyi Chen
Wei Huang
Jing Wang
Xiujuan Lang
Xijun Liu
Yumei Liu
Bo Sun
Hulun Li
author_facet Yixiang Jiang
Ning Wang
Jingyi Liu
Jiayi Li
Lulu Chang
Changxin Yang
Zhengyi Chen
Wei Huang
Jing Wang
Xiujuan Lang
Xijun Liu
Yumei Liu
Bo Sun
Hulun Li
author_sort Yixiang Jiang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Evobrutinib, a third-generation Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor, shows great promise for treating neuroinflammatory diseases due to its small molecular size, ease of absorption, and ability to cross the blood–brain barrier. Although previous studies have confirmed significant BTK expression in microglia, the potential of Evobrutinib to treat ischemic stroke by modulating microglial function and its underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. Methods Male C57BL/6 mice with cerebral ischemia was established to evaluate the effects of oral Evobrutinib treatment. Assessments included TTC staining, behavioral experiments, and pathological examinations were used to evaluate cerebral ischemic injury. Western Blot, flow cytometry, and qPCR were employed to monitor changes in BTK and pBTK expression in microglia and the impact of Evobrutinib on neuroinflammation following the stroke. In vitro, primary microglia were generated to determine the effects of Evobrutinib on the TLR4/ Myd88/NF-κB pathway and on the polarization of microglial subtypes. Results The expression of BTK and pBTK is upregulated in microglia under conditions of cerebral ischemia and oxygen–glucose deprivation (OGD). Evobrutinib treatment not only reduced infarct volume in mice but also ameliorated pathological damage and facilitated neurological function recovery. Flow cytometry revealed that Evobrutinib decreased inflammatory cell infiltration and promoted M2 microglia polarization post-stroke. In vitro studies demonstrated that Evobrutinib downregulated the proportion of pro-inflammatory microglia and curtailed the secretion of inflammatory factors under OGD conditions. Mechanistically, Evobrutinib attenuated the OGD-induced upregulation of TLR4/Myd88/NF-κB expression, an effect that was further enhanced by the addition of the TLR4 pathway inhibitor TAK242. Conclusions Evobrutinib inhibits the expression and activation of BTK in microglia, reducing M1 microglia-mediated neuroinflammation and alleviating ischemic injury following stroke. This effect is mechanistically linked to the inhibition of TLR4/Myd88/NF-κB-mediated M1 polarization of microglia. Graphical abstract Evobrutinib treatment improves neurological function of mice with cerebral ischemia, and alleviates neuroinflammation by inhibiting M1 microglia polarization through TLR4/Myd88/NF-κB pathway.
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spelling doaj-art-da4af563cb3f4fc288606c57e523b6772025-08-20T02:30:23ZengBMCMolecular Medicine1528-36582025-04-0131111710.1186/s10020-025-01203-8Evobrutinib mitigates neuroinflammation after ischemic stroke by targeting M1 microglial polarization via the TLR4/Myd88/NF-κB pathwayYixiang Jiang0Ning Wang1Jingyi Liu2Jiayi Li3Lulu Chang4Changxin Yang5Zhengyi Chen6Wei Huang7Jing Wang8Xiujuan Lang9Xijun Liu10Yumei Liu11Bo Sun12Hulun Li13Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Harbin Medical UniversityDepartment of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Harbin Medical UniversityDepartment of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Harbin Medical UniversityDepartment of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Harbin Medical UniversityDepartment of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Harbin Medical UniversityDepartment of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Harbin Medical UniversityDepartment of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Harbin Medical UniversityDepartment of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Harbin Medical UniversityDepartment of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Harbin Medical UniversityDepartment of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Harbin Medical UniversityDepartment of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Harbin Medical UniversityDepartment of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Harbin Medical UniversityDepartment of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Harbin Medical UniversityDepartment of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Harbin Medical UniversityAbstract Background Evobrutinib, a third-generation Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor, shows great promise for treating neuroinflammatory diseases due to its small molecular size, ease of absorption, and ability to cross the blood–brain barrier. Although previous studies have confirmed significant BTK expression in microglia, the potential of Evobrutinib to treat ischemic stroke by modulating microglial function and its underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. Methods Male C57BL/6 mice with cerebral ischemia was established to evaluate the effects of oral Evobrutinib treatment. Assessments included TTC staining, behavioral experiments, and pathological examinations were used to evaluate cerebral ischemic injury. Western Blot, flow cytometry, and qPCR were employed to monitor changes in BTK and pBTK expression in microglia and the impact of Evobrutinib on neuroinflammation following the stroke. In vitro, primary microglia were generated to determine the effects of Evobrutinib on the TLR4/ Myd88/NF-κB pathway and on the polarization of microglial subtypes. Results The expression of BTK and pBTK is upregulated in microglia under conditions of cerebral ischemia and oxygen–glucose deprivation (OGD). Evobrutinib treatment not only reduced infarct volume in mice but also ameliorated pathological damage and facilitated neurological function recovery. Flow cytometry revealed that Evobrutinib decreased inflammatory cell infiltration and promoted M2 microglia polarization post-stroke. In vitro studies demonstrated that Evobrutinib downregulated the proportion of pro-inflammatory microglia and curtailed the secretion of inflammatory factors under OGD conditions. Mechanistically, Evobrutinib attenuated the OGD-induced upregulation of TLR4/Myd88/NF-κB expression, an effect that was further enhanced by the addition of the TLR4 pathway inhibitor TAK242. Conclusions Evobrutinib inhibits the expression and activation of BTK in microglia, reducing M1 microglia-mediated neuroinflammation and alleviating ischemic injury following stroke. This effect is mechanistically linked to the inhibition of TLR4/Myd88/NF-κB-mediated M1 polarization of microglia. Graphical abstract Evobrutinib treatment improves neurological function of mice with cerebral ischemia, and alleviates neuroinflammation by inhibiting M1 microglia polarization through TLR4/Myd88/NF-κB pathway.https://doi.org/10.1186/s10020-025-01203-8EvobrutinibCerebral ischemiaTherapyMicroglia polarizationNeuroinflammation
spellingShingle Yixiang Jiang
Ning Wang
Jingyi Liu
Jiayi Li
Lulu Chang
Changxin Yang
Zhengyi Chen
Wei Huang
Jing Wang
Xiujuan Lang
Xijun Liu
Yumei Liu
Bo Sun
Hulun Li
Evobrutinib mitigates neuroinflammation after ischemic stroke by targeting M1 microglial polarization via the TLR4/Myd88/NF-κB pathway
Molecular Medicine
Evobrutinib
Cerebral ischemia
Therapy
Microglia polarization
Neuroinflammation
title Evobrutinib mitigates neuroinflammation after ischemic stroke by targeting M1 microglial polarization via the TLR4/Myd88/NF-κB pathway
title_full Evobrutinib mitigates neuroinflammation after ischemic stroke by targeting M1 microglial polarization via the TLR4/Myd88/NF-κB pathway
title_fullStr Evobrutinib mitigates neuroinflammation after ischemic stroke by targeting M1 microglial polarization via the TLR4/Myd88/NF-κB pathway
title_full_unstemmed Evobrutinib mitigates neuroinflammation after ischemic stroke by targeting M1 microglial polarization via the TLR4/Myd88/NF-κB pathway
title_short Evobrutinib mitigates neuroinflammation after ischemic stroke by targeting M1 microglial polarization via the TLR4/Myd88/NF-κB pathway
title_sort evobrutinib mitigates neuroinflammation after ischemic stroke by targeting m1 microglial polarization via the tlr4 myd88 nf κb pathway
topic Evobrutinib
Cerebral ischemia
Therapy
Microglia polarization
Neuroinflammation
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s10020-025-01203-8
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