Caffeic acid phenethyl ester reduces spinal cord injury-evoked locomotor dysfunction

Abstract

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) is a component of propolis, which is a substance taken from the hives of honeybees, and is known to exhibit an anti-inflammatory activity. Such activity has been thought to be partly based on its potential and specific inhibitory activities toward nuclear factor-κB, a transcription factor. Therefore, in the present study, we evaluated the effect of CAPE on functional locomotor recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI) caused by hemi-transection, because inflammatory responses are a major cause of the secondary injury observed following SCI and play a pivotal role in regulating the pathogenesis of acute and chronic SCI. When CAPE was i.p.-administered at a dosage of 10 μmol/kg, it enhanced the recovery of locomotor function and reduced the lesion size while suppressing the expression of the mRNAs for a pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β and the inflammatory enzymes, inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2. These results suggest CAPE to be a promising therapeutic tool for reducing the secondary neuronal damage following primary physical injury to the spinal cord.

The Effects of Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester on Inflammatory Cytokines after Acute Spinal Cord Injury

“…[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] There are only five studies in the literature evaluating the effects of CAPE in the spinal cord. [5,8,11,18,19] Two of these studies have been performed to evaluate the protective effects of CAPE against experimental allergic encephalomyelitisinduced oxidative stress, and in methotrexate administered rats. [8,11] Kasai et al have reported that CAPE might be a promising therapeutic agent for reducing secondary neural damage in their hemi-transection model.…”

“…[8,11] Kasai et al have reported that CAPE might be a promising therapeutic agent for reducing secondary neural damage in their hemi-transection model. [18] In the remaining two studies, researchers have evaluated the effects of CAPE in ischemia-reperfusion injury model. Authors have reported that CAPE decreases injury more than methylprednisolone with its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.…”

Effects of Intrathecal Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester and Methylprednisolone on Oxidant/Antioxidant Status in Traumatic Spinal Cord Injuries

“…It has been reported to inhibit lipid peroxidation as well. [9][10][11][12] CAPE is one of the most powerful lipophilic antioxidants. CAPE has been shown to decrease spinal cord ischemia and to have a protective role in the spinal cord because of its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects.…”

Effects of intrathecal caffeic acid phenethyl ester (cape) on il-6 and tnf-α levels and local inflammatory responses in spinal cord injuries

“…Thus, edema and microhemorrhage develop in the area damaged by these previously reported direct and indirect mechanisms (6,11). In the local inflammatory response, it has been demonstrated that pro-inflammatory mediators and in particular TNF-α and IL-6 are associated with neutrophil infiltration (6,8,13).…”

“…The inflammatory response associated with SCI plays a significant role in secondary spinal cord damage. The effects of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inflammatory enzymes during inflammatory response are well known (7,8). Cytokines are effective in activated leukocyte-dependent endothelial cell damage and direct endothelial cell damage.…”