Study on the regulatory mechanism of Panax notoginseng saponins on the mechanical response of glial cells after cerebral ischemia

Neuroglial cells, especially microglia and astrocytes, are crucial in the brain’s recovery process after ischemic injury. Recent studies have shown that Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) have potential therapeutic effects on the mechanical responses of neuroglial cells and their related regulatory mechanisms after cerebral ischemia. This study investigated the regulatory effects of PNS on neuroglial cells after cerebral ischemia, with a focus on its impact on microglial activation and cellular mechanical responses. Experimental results demonstrated that PNS significantly enhanced the mechanical stiffness of microglial cells (Young’s modulus increased by 27.65%), a mechanism involving the scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS levels reduced, P < 0.01), stabilization of the cytoskeleton, and modulation of membrane tension, thereby suppressing the release of inflammatory factors and pathological activation. Additionally, LPNS pretreatment effectively protected the membrane integrity of astrocytes (LDH release decreased by 18.05%–29.54%), attributed to the synergistic effects of antioxidation, membrane stabilization, and anti-apoptosis. In the ischemia-reperfusion model, PNS markedly reduced leukocyte adhesion in cerebral blood vessels (72 h) by inhibiting endothelial adhesion molecule expression, improving nitric oxide (NO) production, and alleviating oxidative stress.