Beraprost sodium ameliorates cognitive impairment by promoting oligodendrocyte precursor cell proliferation and differentiation in vascular cognitive impairment mouse model.

Abstract

Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) leads to white matter injury (WMI), a key contributor to the development of vascular cognitive impairment (VCI). Beraprost sodium (BPS) is a chemically stable and orally active prostaglandin I(PGI) analog, while the role and mechanism of BPS in VCI have not been well understood. In this study, we used a mouse model of bilateral carotid artery stenosis (BCAS mice) and demonstrated that BPS treatment facilitated the proliferation and differentiation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs), potentially via PDGFR-α pathway modulation. This intervention promoted remyelination and attenuated WMI and cognitive dysfunction in BCAS mice. Collectively, our results suggested that BPS mitigates chronic ischemic WMI by targeting OPC development, providing a potential therapeutic avenue for VCI.