Abstract:Objective To culture brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) of SD rats in vitro and construct a model of scratching injury, so as to observe the effect of scratching injury on NF-κB expression as well as auto-phagy, apoptosis and necrosis of of BMECs. Methods BMECs of SD rats were cultured in vitro and scratching injury was implemented, then the cells were treated with pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), an NF-κB inhibitor. The cells were randomly devided into control group, simple-injury group and injury-inhibition group. At 1, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours after injury, NF-κB p65 expression was measured using immunofluorescent cytochemistry assay, apoptosis and necrosis of the cells were determined by Annexin V/PI staining, and expression of autophagy-related protein LC3 II was determined by Western blot. An uninjured group of BMECs was set as control. Results After scratching injury, NF-κB expression of the BMECs was enhanced from 1 h after injury, and peaked at 24 h, significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05). Indicators for apoptosis, necrosis and autophagy all increased to different extents as time went on, and they showed significant differences from those of the control group (P < 0.05); while PDTC treatment following injury significantly inhibited these changes (P < 0.05). Conclusions Scratching damage activates NF-κB expression of BMECs and causes autophagy, apoptosis and necrosis of BMECs.