Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

TWIST1 silencing attenuates intracranial aneurysms by inhibiting NF-κB signaling

Deng Wang, Dan Lai , Chengfu Peng

Department of Neurosurgery, Jiangxi Pingxiang People's Hospital, Pingxiang, Jiangxi Province 337055, China;

For correspondence:- Dan Lai Email: laidan0805@163.com Tel:+867996881787

Accepted: 15 April 2022 Published: 31

Citation: Wang D, Lai D, Peng C. TWIST1 silencing attenuates intracranial aneurysms by inhibiting NF-κB signaling. Trop J Pharm Res 2022; 21(5):927-932 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v21i5.3

© 2022 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the effect of Twist family basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor 1 (TWIST1) on intracranial aneurysms.

Methods: A rat model of intracranial aneurysm was established by ligating the posterior branches of both the renal and left common carotid arteries. Pathological changes in the intracranial arterial wall were investigated using hematoxylin-eosin staining. TWIST1 expression was assessed using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot, while vascular smooth muscle cell apoptosis was investigated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining. Inflammation was evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results: Rats with intracranial aneurysms had degenerative changes in vessel wall structure. In intracranial aneurysm rats, TWIST1 was upregulated in arterial wall sections, and TWIST1 knockdown ameliorated the pathological changes to the arterial wall. TWIST1 silencing reduced serum tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels and suppressed vascular smooth muscle cell apoptosis in rats with intracranial aneurysms. TWIST1 knockdown increased phospho (p)-inhibitor of nuclear factor-κB (IκB) and decreased IκB and p-p65 in intracranial aneurysm rat arterial wall sections.

Conclusion: In intracranial aneurysms, silencing TWIST1 promoted vascular remodeling and suppresses vascular smooth muscle cell apoptosis and inflammation through inactivating NF-κB signaling, revealing TWIST1 silencing as a potential treatment strategy.

Keywords: TWIST1, Intracranial aneurysm, NF-κB signaling, Vascular smooth muscle, Vascular remodeling