Verapamil as an Adjunct Therapy to Reduce tPA Toxicity in Hyperglycemic Stroke: Implication of TXNIP/NLRP3 Inflammasome

Thrombolytic therapy has remained quite challenging in hyperglycemic patients for its association with poor prognosis and increased hemorrhagic conversions. We recently showed that tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)-induced cerebrovascular damage is associated with thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) upregulation, which has an established role in the detrimental effects of hyperglycemia. In the present work, we investigated whether verapamil, an established TXNIP inhibitor, may provide protection against hyperglycemic stroke and tPA-induced blood–brain barrier (BBB) disruption. Acute hyperglycemia was induced by intraperitoneal administration of 20% glucose, 15 min prior to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO). Verapamil (0.15 mg/kg) or saline was intravenously infused with tPA at hyperglycemic reperfusion, 1 h post tMCAO. After 24 h of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), mice were assessed for neurobehavioral deficits followed by sacrifice and evaluation of brain infarct volume, edema, and microbleeding. Alterations in TXNIP, inflammatory mediators, and BBB markers were further analyzed using immunoblotting or immunostaining techniques. As adjunctive therapy, verapamil significantly reduced tPA-induced BBB leakage, matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) upregulation, and tight junction protein deregulation, which resulted in lesser hemorrhagic conversions. Importantly, verapamil strongly reversed tPA-induced TXNIP/NLRP3 (NOD-like receptor pyrin domain-containing-3) inflammasome activation and reduced infarct volume. This concurred with a remarkable decrease in high-mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB-1) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) stimulation, leading to less priming of NLRP3 inflammasome. This preclinical study supports verapamil as a safe adjuvant that may complement thrombolytic therapy by inhibiting TXNIP’s detrimental role in hyperglycemic stroke.