Phytother Res. 2026 Sep 1. doi: 10.1002/ptr.70439. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) remains the most severe stroke subtype with high mortality and disability rates. Although apigenin has shown cerebroprotective potential in preclinical studies, its mechanism of action, particularly in hypertensive ICH, remains poorly understood. This study investigates the molecular pathway through which apigenin confers protection against hypertensive ICH. We employed a hypertensive ICH mouse model treated with varying apigenin doses. Through transcriptomic profiling, molecular docking, surface plasmon resonance (SPR), and pull-down assay, we identified peroxiredoxin 2 (PRDX2) as a direct target of apigenin. Prdx2-/- mice and recombinant human thioredoxin 1 (rhTrx1) rescue experiments were utilized to validate the signaling pathway. Histological analysis, western blot, immunofluorescence, and zymography were applied to assess hemorrhage, oxidative stress, inflammation, and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. Apigenin administration significantly reduced ICH incidence, hemorrhage volume, and area while enhancing vascular integrity, independent of blood pressure changes. We identified PRDX2 as a direct binding partner of apigenin, with their interaction stabilizing PRDX2 expression. PRDX2 deficiency abolished apigenin's protective effects and exacerbated oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and vascular damage. Furthermore, apigenin upregulated Trx1 expression via PRDX2, and rhTrx1 administration rescued the protective phenotype in Prdx2-/- mice by reducing oxidative damage, inflammatory cell infiltration, and vascular smooth muscle cell apoptosis. Our study elucidates a novel apigenin-PRDX2-Trx1 antioxidant signaling pathway that protects against hypertensive ICH through blood pressure-independent mechanisms. These findings not only provide a mechanistic foundation for developing apigenin-based therapeutics for cerebrovascular diseases, but also offer novel strategies and entry points for future clinical translation.
PMID:42676254 | DOI:10.1002/ptr.70439