Ginsenosides are the major active components of ginseng, which have been proven to be effective in therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. Ginsenoside Rb1 (GS-Rb1) is the most abundant among all the identified ginsenosides and has been shown to exert neuroprotective effects, although the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Connexins are a family of transmembrane proteins that form gap junctions, which are important for diffusion of cytosolic factors such as ions and second messenger signaling molecules. Previous studies have shown that a subset of connexin proteins is involved in neuroprotection. We investigated the protective effects of GS-Rb1 against traumatic brain injury (TBI) and the potential mechanism using TBI mouse model. We discovered that TBI-induced brain injury and up-regulation of connexin40 (Cx40) protein expression as early as 6 h post-TBI, which was reversed by administration of GS-Rb1. In addition, we found that the protective effects of GS-Rb1 are dose and time dependent and are partially mediated through phosphorylation of ERK1/2 signaling pathway, as evidenced by the abolishment of GS-Rb1-mediated elevation of p-ERK1/2 expression and inhibition of Cx40 expressions when ERK inhibitor U0126 was used. Our study provides evidence that Cx40 is implicated in TBI-induced brain injuries, and GS-Rb1 exerts neuroprotective activity against TBI involving down-regulation of Cx40 expression.
Keywords: Connexin40; Ginsenoside Rb1; Neuroprotective activity; TBI.