Abstract:Objective To investigated the effects of recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin alpha (ART- 123) on cerebral ischemic/reperfusion injury in mouse model. Methods BALB/c mice were subjected to 4 h-middle cerebral artery suture occlusion (MCAO) and treated at reperfusion with Vehicle or ART-123 (1 or 5 mg/kg, i.v) after 4 h MCAO. Infarct volume, motor coordination, plasma high-mobility group box (HMGB1) level and hemorrhage volume were evaluated 24 h after 4 h MCAO. Results The infarct volume was reduced by ART-123 in mice subjected to 4 h MCAO in a dose-dependent manner (F = 4.843, P = 0.038). Moreover, ART-123 (5 mg/kg) improved motor coordination determined by the rotarod test (P = 0.028), and decreased plasma HMGB1 level compared with Vehicle-treated controls (P = 0.000). In addition, there was no difference in hemorrhage volume between Vehicletreated control group and the ART-123 treatment group. Conclusions ART-123 may improve cerebral ischemia / reperfusion injury in mice by inhibiting HMGB1.