The Protective Effect of Safinamide in Ischemic Stroke Mice and a Brain Endothelial Cell Line

Stroke is one of the leading causes of mortality in cardiovascular diseases. The disruption of the brain-blood barrier is the common feature of stroke-related complications. Safinamide is a newly approved add-on drug to treat Parkinson’s disease, and previously studies suggest safinamide could have a potential role on neuroprotection. In this study, we investigated its preventive effect in both acutely induced stroke animals and brain endothelial cells. By the induction of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in mice, we established a transit stroke model. Mice were administered 90 mg/kg/day safinamide prior to MCAO and during ischemia and reperfusion. Results indicate that the administration of safinamide significantly ameliorated MCAO-caused cerebral infarction volume, neurological deficit, disruption of the brain-blood barrier (BBB), and impaired expression of tight junction protein occludin and ZO-1. In cultured brain endothelial cell line bEND.3, pre-treatment with safinamide alleviated oxygen and glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) caused cytotoxicity and favored cell survival. Transwell assay showed safinamide prevented OGD/R-induced hyperpermeability and the reduction of occludin and ZO-1. Moreover, safinamide treatment suppressed OGD/R-caused induction of metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and 9 (MMP-9). Collectively, our data conclude safinamide has a preventive neuroprotection in acute stroke animals. The protective effect of safinamide on brain endothelial cells suggests the drug may ameliorate BBB disruption and improve vascular integrity in ischemia stroke.