Adjudin prevents neuronal damage and neuroinflammation via inhibiting mTOR activation against pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus

Inflammatory responses in the brain play an etiological role in the development of epilepsy, suggesting that finding novel molecules for controlling neuroinflammation may have clinical value in developing the disease-modifying strategies for epileptogenesis. Adjudin, a multi-functional small molecule compound, has pleiotropic effects, including anti-inflammatory properties. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effects of adjudin on pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus (SE) and its role in the regulation of reactive gliosis and neuroinflammation. SE was induced in male C57BL/6 mice that were then treated with adjudin (50 mg/kg) for 3 days after SE onset. Immunofluorescence staining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling staining, and western blot analysis were used to evaluate the effects of adjudin treatment in the hippocampus after SE. Our results showed that adjudin treatment significantly mitigated apoptotic cell death in the hippocampus after SE onset. Moreover, adjudin treatment suppressed SE-induced glial activation and activation of mammalian target of rapamycin signaling in the hippocampus. Concomitantly, adjudin treatment significantly reduced SE-induced inflammatory processes, as confirmed by changes in the expression of inflammatory mediators such as tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and arginase-1. In conclusion, these findings suggest that adjudin may serve as a potential neuroprotective agent for preventing pathological mechanisms implicated in epileptogenesis. •Adjudin prevents SE-induced apoptotic neuronal death in the hippocampus.•Adjudin reduces reactive gliosis after SE onset.•Adjudin inhibits inflammatory responses in the hippocampus after SE.•Adjudin suppresses glial mTOR activation in the hippocampus after SE.•Adjudin is a potential therapeutic agent for preventing epileptic injuries.