A dopamine D1-like receptor agonist ameliorates stab wound-induced brain injury through its immunosuppressive effect

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) causes progressive nervous tissue degeneration long after the initial injury due to secondary neuroinflammatory reactions. G protein-coupled dopamine D1-like receptors, which elevate intracellular cAMP levels, have been shown to mediate the suppressive effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced proinflammatory activation of microglia and macrophages. The present study investigated whether or not the D1-like receptor-specific agonist SKF-81297 (SKF) administered intraperitoneally once daily for 7 days starting 1 h after TBI could ameliorate TBI in a rat model of stab wounds in the forebrain. SKF reduced the volume of TBI-induced brain tissue loss, increased mobile activity, and ameliorated cognitive dysfunction two months after TBI. A single dose of SKF suppressed the expression of IL-1β and TNFα in brain tissue by reducing oxidative injury 24 h post-TBI. SKF decreased the expression of NADPH oxidase 2 subunits but did not affect antioxidative enzymes. SKF also prevented LPS-induced translocation of NFκB into the nuclei of macrophages. The agonist clenbuterol (CLB) for adrenergic β2 receptor, another Gs-linked GPCR, exerted comparable ameliorative effects in TBI model rats by suppressing neuroinflammation. In summary, SKF may exert anti-inflammatory effects by suppressing the NFκB pathway, similar to CLB, leading to amelioration of TBI-induced brain degeneration.