DF3016A induces increased BDNF transcription in ischemic neuroinflammation injury

Abstract C5a is a crucial terminal effector of the C cascade, mostly involved in pain and neuroinflammatory conditions. DF3016A is a novel potent and selective C5a receptor (C5aR) inhibitor that crosses the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and may have pharmacological properties. We have previously demonstrated a protective effect of DF3016A on injured primary cortical neurons by oxygen-glucose deprivation-reoxygenation (OGD/R) model to mimic the neuroinflammatory process. Here, we investigated the molecular pathway and factors involved in the neuroprotection previously reported. Our findings show that DF3016A protects against the neuroinflammatory insult by activating brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) transcription pathway, which involves methyl CpG–binding protein 2 (MeCP2) and microRNA- 132 (miR-132) regulatory factors, both required in nociceptive signaling and neuroinflammation. Further in vivo investigations will confirm the functionality of the DF3016A molecule as a therapeutic resource in neuroinflammation and pain injuries.