Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields Protect Against Brain Ischemia by Modulating the Astrocytic Cholinergic Anti-inflammatory Pathway

Neuroinflammation is one of the most important pathological processes following brain ischemia. Pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) protect against brain ischemia, but their role in regulating neuroinflammation remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated the biological effects of PEMF exposure on brain ischemia-induced neuroinflammation through the astrocytic cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway. PEMF exposure reduced the activation of astrocytes and neuroinflammation following brain ischemia by directly modulating astrocytic injury and inflammatory cytokine release. Inhibition of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha 7 subunit (alpha 7nAChR) by a specific antagonist reversed the regulatory effects of PEMF on astrocytes. Furthermore, negative regulation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) by alpha 7nAChR was found to be an important downstream mechanism through which PEMF regulates astrocyte-related neuroinflammation. PEMF suppressed STAT3 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation by activating alpha 7nAChR. These results demonstrate that PEMF exerts anti-inflammatory effects in the context of brain ischemia by modulating astrocytic alpha 7nAChR/STAT3 signaling. [GRAPHICS] .