Cofilin Inhibition by Limk1 Reduces Rod Formation and Cell Apoptosis after Ischemic Stroke

Astragaloside IV protects brain cells from ischemia-reperfusion injury by inhibiting ryanodine receptor expression and reducing the expression of P-Src and P-GRK2

Astragaloside IV, a prime active component of Astragalus membranaceus, has potential as a neuroprotectant. We aimed to identify the active ingredients in A. membranaceus and assess if Astragaloside IV can improve cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI) cell apoptosis by reducing P-Src and P-GRK2 via ryanodine receptor (RyR) expression inhibition. We used bioinformatics analysis to examine the effects of A. membranaceus on ischemic stroke. We studied brain samples from middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) mice treated with normal saline, Astragaloside IV, and sham mice for pathology and Western blot tests. We also tested PC12 cells in vitro with or without Astragaloside IV or GSK180736A using Western blotting and fluorescence assays. Our bioinformatics analysis suggested a possible association between A. membranaceus, calcium ion pathways, and apoptosis pathways. Western blot data indicated Astragaloside IV significantly decreased RyR, p-Src, and downstream phosphorylated GRK2, PLC, CaMKII, and IP3R levels in MCAO mice brains. Astragaloside IV also considerably inhibited pro-apoptotic and oxidative stress-associated proteins' expression while boosting anti-apoptotic protein expression. The results suggest Astragaloside IV can inhibit RyR expression, subsequently reducing brain cell apoptosis.

The SWELL1 Channel Promotes Ischemic Brain Damage by Mediating Neuronal Swelling and Glutamate Toxicity

Cytotoxic neuronal swelling and glutamate excitotoxicity are two hallmarks of ischemic stroke. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are not well understood. Here, it is reported that SWELL1, the essential subunit of the volume-regulated anion channel (VRAC), plays a dual role in ischemic injury by promoting neuronal swelling and glutamate excitotoxicity. SWELL1 expression is upregulated in neurons and astrocytes after experimental stroke in mice. The neuronal SWELL1 channel is activated by intracellular hypertonicity, leading to Cl- influx-dependent cytotoxic neuronal swelling and subsequent cell death. Additionally, the SWELL1 channel in astrocytes mediates pathological glutamate release, indicated by increases in neuronal slow inward current frequency and tonic NMDAR current. Pharmacologically, targeting VRAC with a new inhibitor, an FDA-approved drug Dicumarol, attenuated cytotoxic neuronal swelling and cell death, reduced astrocytic glutamate release, and provided significant neuroprotection in mice when administered either before or after ischemia. Therefore, these findings uncover the pleiotropic effects of the SWELL1 channel in neurons and astrocytes in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke and provide proof of concept for therapeutically targeting it in this disease.

The Multifaceted Role of Cofilin in Neurodegeneration and Stroke: Insights into Pathogenesis and Targeting as a Therapy

This comprehensive review explores the complex role of cofilin, an actin-binding protein, across various neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, schizophrenia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Huntington's) and stroke. Cofilin is an essential protein in cytoskeletal dynamics, and any dysregulation could lead to potentially serious complications. Cofilin's involvement is underscored by its impact on pathological hallmarks like Aβ plaques and α-synuclein aggregates, triggering synaptic dysfunction, dendritic spine loss, and impaired neuronal plasticity, leading to cognitive decline. In Parkinson's disease, cofilin collaborates with α-synuclein, exacerbating neurotoxicity and impairing mitochondrial and axonal function. ALS and frontotemporal dementia showcase cofilin's association with genetic factors like C9ORF72, affecting actin dynamics and contributing to neurotoxicity. Huntington's disease brings cofilin into focus by impairing microglial migration and influencing synaptic plasticity through AMPA receptor regulation. Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and schizophrenia exhibit 14-3-3 proteins in cofilin dysregulation as a shared pathological mechanism. In the case of stroke, cofilin takes center stage, mediating neurotoxicity and neuronal cell death. Notably, there is a potential overlap in the pathologies and involvement of cofilin in various diseases. In this context, referencing cofilin dysfunction could provide valuable insights into the common pathologies associated with the aforementioned conditions. Moreover, this review explores promising therapeutic interventions, including cofilin inhibitors and gene therapy, demonstrating efficacy in preclinical models. Challenges in inhibitor development, brain delivery, tissue/cell specificity, and long-term safety are acknowledged, emphasizing the need for precision drug therapy. The call to action involves collaborative research, biomarker identification, and advancing translational efforts. Cofilin emerges as a pivotal player, offering potential as a therapeutic target. However, unraveling its complexities requires concerted multidisciplinary efforts for nuanced and effective interventions across the intricate landscape of neurodegenerative diseases and stroke, presenting a hopeful avenue for improved patient care.

Cofilin Inhibitor Improves Neurological and Cognitive Functions after Intracerebral Hemorrhage by Suppressing Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Related-Neuroinflammation

Neuroinflammation after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a crucial factor that determines the extent of the injury. Cofilin is a cytoskeleton-associated protein that drives neuroinflammation and microglia activation. A novel cofilin inhibitor (CI) synthesized and developed in our lab has turned out to be a potential therapeutic agent for targeting cofilin-mediated neuroinflammation in an in vitro model of ICH and traumatic brain injury. The current study aims to examine the therapeutic potential of CI in a mouse collagenase model of ICH and examine the neurobehavioral outcomes and its mechanism of action. Male mice were subjected to intrastriatal collagenase injection to induce ICH, and sham mice received needle insertion. Various concentrations (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) of CI were administered to different cohorts of the animals as a single intravenous injection 3 h following ICH and intraperitoneally every 12 h for 3 days. The animals were tested for neurobehavioral parameters for up to 7 days and sacrificed to collect brains for hematoma volume measurement, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. Blood was collected for cofilin, TNF-α, and IL-1β assessments. The results indicated that 50 mg/kg CI improved neurological outcomes, reversed post-stroke cognitive impairment, accelerated hematoma resolution, mitigated cofilin rods/aggregates, and reduced microglial and astrocyte activation in mice with ICH. Microglia morphological analysis demonstrated that CI restored the homeostasis ramification pattern of microglia in mice treated with CI. CI suppressed endoplasmic reticulum stress-related neuroinflammation by inhibiting inflammasomes and cell death signaling pathways. We also showed that CI prevented synaptic loss by reviving the pre- and post-synaptic markers. Our results unveil a novel therapeutic approach to treating ICH and open a window for using CI in clinical practice.

Chemokine Receptor Antagonists Prevent and Reverse Cofilin-Actin Rod Pathology and Protect Synapses in Cultured Rodent and Human iPSC-Derived Neurons

Synapse loss is the principal cause of cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related disorders (ADRD). Synapse development depends on the intricate dynamics of the neuronal cytoskeleton. Cofilin, the major protein regulating actin dynamics, can be sequestered into cofilactin rods, intra-neurite bundles of cofilin-saturated actin filaments that can disrupt vesicular trafficking and cause synaptic loss. Rods are a brain pathology in human AD and mouse models of AD and ADRD. Eliminating rods is the focus of this paper. One pathway for rod formation is triggered in ~20% of rodent hippocampal neurons by disease-related factors (e.g., soluble oligomers of Amyloid-β (Aβ)) and requires cellular prion protein (PrPC), active NADPH oxidase (NOX), and cytokine/chemokine receptors (CCRs). FDA-approved antagonists of CXCR4 and CCR5 inhibit Aβ-induced rods in both rodent and human neurons with effective concentrations for 50% rod reduction (EC50) of 1-10 nM. Remarkably, two D-amino acid receptor-active peptides (RAP-103 and RAP-310) inhibit Aβ-induced rods with an EC50 of ~1 pM in mouse neurons and ~0.1 pM in human neurons. These peptides are analogs of D-Ala-Peptide T-Amide (DAPTA) and share a pentapeptide sequence (TTNYT) antagonistic to several CCR-dependent responses. RAP-103 does not inhibit neuritogenesis or outgrowth even at 1 µM, >106-fold above its EC50. N-terminal methylation, or D-Thr to D-Ser substitution, decreases the rod-inhibiting potency of RAP-103 by 103-fold, suggesting high target specificity. Neither RAP peptide inhibits neuronal rod formation induced by excitotoxic glutamate, but both inhibit rods induced in human neurons by several PrPC/NOX pathway activators (Aβ, HIV-gp120 protein, and IL-6). Significantly, RAP-103 completely protects against Aβ-induced loss of mature and developing synapses and, at 0.1 nM, reverses rods in both rodent and human neurons (T½ ~ 3 h) even in the continuous presence of Aβ. Thus, this orally available, brain-permeable peptide should be highly effective in reducing rod pathology in multifactorial neurological diseases with mixed proteinopathies acting through PrPC/NOX.

Spatial and temporal mapping of neuron-microglia interaction modes in acute ischemic stroke

Ischemic stroke (IS) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, accounting for 75-80% of all strokes. Under conditions of ischemia and hypoxia, neurons suffer damage or death, leading to a series of secondary immune reactions. Microglia, the earliest activated immune cells, can exert neurotoxic or neuroprotective effects on neurons through secretion of factors. There exists a complex interaction between neurons and microglia during this process. Moreover, the interaction between them becomes even more complex due to differences in the infarct area and reperfusion time. This review first elaborates on the differences in neuronal death modes between the ischemic core and penumbra, and then introduces the differences in microglial markers across different infarct areas with varying reperfusion time, indicating distinct functions. Finally, we focus on exploring the interaction modes between neurons and microglia in order to precisely target beneficial interactions and inhibit harmful ones, thus providing new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of IS.

Spatiotemporal Cofilin Signaling, Microglial Activation, Neuroinflammation, and Cognitive Impairment Following Hemorrhagic Brain Injury

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a significant health concern associated with high mortality. Cofilin plays a crucial role in stress conditions, but its signaling following ICH in a longitudinal study is yet to be ascertained. In the present study, we examined the cofilin expression in human ICH autopsy brains. Then, the spatiotemporal cofilin signaling, microglia activation, and neurobehavioral outcomes were investigated in a mouse model of ICH. Human autopsy brain sections from ICH patients showed increased intracellular cofilin localization within microglia in the perihematomal area, possibly associated with microglial activation and morphological changes. Various cohorts of mice were subjected to intrastriatal collagenase injection and sacrificed at time points of 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days. Mice suffered from severe neurobehavioral deficits after ICH, lasting for 7 days, followed by a gradual improvement. Mice suffered post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) both acutely and in the chronic phase. Hematoma volume increased from day 1 to 3, whereas ventricle size increased from day 21 to 28. Cofilin protein expression increased in the ipsilateral striatum on days 1 and 3 and then decreased from days 7 to 28. An increase in activated microglia was observed around the hematoma on days 1 to 7, followed by a gradual reduction up to day 28. Around the hematoma, activated microglia showed morphological changes from ramified to amoeboid. mRNA levels of inflammatory [tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin 1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and anti-inflammatory markers [interleukin-10 (IL-10), transforming growth factor-β TGF-β, and arginase I (Arg1)] increased during the acute phase and decreased in the chronic phase. Blood cofilin levels increased on day 3 and matched the increase in chemokine levels. slingshot protein phosphatase 1 (SSH1) protein, which activates cofilin, was increased from day 1 to 7. These results suggest that microglial activation might be the sequel of cofilin overactivation following ICH, leading to widespread neuroinflammation and consequent PSCI.

Overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor enhances the neuroprotective effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation in ischemic stroke

Although bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) might have therapeutic potency in ischemic stroke, the benefits are limited. The current study investigated the effects of BMSCs engineered to overexpress vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on behavioral defects in a rat model of transient cerebral ischemia, which was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion. VEGF-BMSCs or control grafts were injected into the left striatum of the infarcted hemisphere 24 hours after stroke. We found that compared with the stroke-only group and the vehicle- and BMSCs-control groups, the VEGF-BMSCs treated animals displayed the largest benefits, as evidenced by attenuated behavioral defects and smaller infarct volume 7 days after stroke. Additionally, VEGF-BMSCs greatly inhibited destruction of the blood-brain barrier, increased the regeneration of blood vessels in the region of ischemic penumbra, and reducedneuronal degeneration surrounding the infarct core. Further mechanistic studies showed that among all transplant groups, VEGF-BMSCs transplantation induced the highest level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor. These results suggest that BMSCs transplantation with vascular endothelial growth factor has the potential to treat ischemic stroke with better results than are currently available.

Changes in nanomechanical properties of single neuroblastoma cells as a model for oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD)

Although complex, the biological processes underlying ischemic stroke are better known than those related to biomechanical alterations of single cells. Mechanisms of biomechanical changes and their relations to the molecular processes are crucial for understanding the function and dysfunction of the brain. In our study, we applied atomic force microscopy (AFM) to quantify the alterations in biomechanical properties in neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells subjected to oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) and reoxygenation (RO). Obtained results reveal several characteristics. Cell viability remained at the same level, regardless of the OGD and RO conditions, but, in parallel, the metabolic activity of cells decreased with OGD duration. 24 h RO did not recover the metabolic activity fully. Cells subjected to OGD appeared softer than control cells. Cell softening was strongly present in cells after 1 h of OGD and with longer OGD duration, and in RO conditions, cells recovered their mechanical properties. Changes in the nanomechanical properties of cells were attributed to the remodelling of actin filaments, which was related to cofilin-based regulation and impaired metabolic activity of cells. The presented study shows the importance of nanomechanics in research on ischemic-related pathological processes such as stroke.

Cytoskeletal dysregulation and neurodegenerative disease: Formation, monitoring, and inhibition of cofilin-actin rods

The presence of atypical cytoskeletal dynamics, structures, and associated morphologies is a common theme uniting numerous diseases and developmental disorders. In particular, cytoskeletal dysregulation is a common cellular feature of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Huntington’s disease. While the numerous activators and inhibitors of dysregulation present complexities for characterizing these elements as byproducts or initiators of the disease state, it is increasingly clear that a better understanding of these anomalies is critical for advancing the state of knowledge and plan of therapeutic attack. In this review, we focus on the hallmarks of cytoskeletal dysregulation that are associated with cofilin-linked actin regulation, with a particular emphasis on the formation, monitoring, and inhibition of cofilin-actin rods. We also review actin-associated proteins other than cofilin with links to cytoskeleton-associated neurodegenerative processes, recognizing that cofilin-actin rods comprise one strand of a vast web of interactions that occur as a result of cytoskeletal dysregulation. Our aim is to present a current perspective on cytoskeletal dysregulation, connecting recent developments in our understanding with emerging strategies for biosensing and biomimicry that will help shape future directions of the field.

Sertoli cell survival and barrier function are regulated by miR-181c/d-Pafah1b1 axis during mammalian spermatogenesis

Sertoli cells contribute to the formation of the blood-testis barrier (BTB), which is necessary for normal spermatogenesis. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as posttranscriptional regulatory elements in BTB function during spermatogenesis. Our previous study has shown that miR-181c or miR-181d (miR-181c/d) is highly expressed in testes from boars at 60 days old compared with at 180 days old. Herein, we found that overexpression of miR-181c/d via miR-181c/d mimics in murine Sertoli cells (SCs) or through injecting miR-181c/d-overexpressing lentivirus in murine testes perturbs BTB function by altering BTB-associated protein distribution at the Sertoli cell-cell interface and F-actin organization, but this in vivo perturbation disappears approximately 6 weeks after the final treatment. We also found that miR-181c/d represses Sertoli cell proliferation and promotes its apoptosis. Moreover, miR-181c/d regulates Sertoli cell survival and barrier function by targeting platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase 1b regulatory subunit 1 (Pafah1b1) gene. Furthermore, miR-181c/d suppresses PAFAH1B1 expression, reduces the complex of PAFAH1B1 with IQ motif-containing GTPase activating protein 1, and inhibits CDC42/PAK1/LIMK1/Cofilin pathway which is required for F-actin stabilization. In total, our results reveal the regulatory axis of miR-181c/d-Pafah1b1 in cell survival and barrier function of Sertoli cells and provide additional insights into miRNA functions in mammalian spermatogenesis.

Therapeutic potential of hair follicle-derived stem cell intranasal transplantation in a rat model of ischemic stroke

BACKGROUND

Stem cell-based therapy has received considerable attention as a potential candidate in the treatment of ischemic stroke; however, employing an appropriate type of stem cells and an effective delivery route are still challenging. In the present study, we investigated the therapeutic effect of safe, noninvasive, and brain-targeted intranasal administration of hair follicle-derived stem cells (HFSCs) in a rat model of ischemic stroke.

METHODS

Stem cells were obtained from the adult rat hair follicles. In experiment 1, stroke was induced by 30 min middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and stem cells were intranasally transplanted immediately after ischemia. In experiment 2, stroke was induced by 120 min MCAO and stem cells were administered 24 h after cerebral ischemia. In all experimental groups, neurological performance, short-term spatial working memory and infarct volume were assessed. Moreover, relative expression of major trophic factors in the striatum and cortex was evaluated by the quantitative PCR technique. The end point of experiment 1 was day 3 and the end point of experiment 2 was day 15.

RESULTS

In both experiments, intranasal administration of HFSCs improved functional performance and decreased infarct volume compared to the MCAO rats. Furthermore, NeuN and VEGF expression were higher in the transplanted group and stem cell therapy partially prevented BDNF and neurotrophin-3 over-expression induced by cerebral ischemia.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings highlight the curative potential of HFSCs following intranasal transplantation in a rat model of ischemic stroke.

Knockdown of circHECTD1 inhibits oxygen-glucose deprivation and reperfusion induced endothelial-mesenchymal transition

Ischemic stroke (IS) has become a cerebrovascular disease which seriously threatens the elderly people. It has been reported that circRNAs participate in multiple diseases, including IS. However, the role of circHECTD1 in IS remains largely unknown. To mimic IS in vitro, human cerebral microvascular endothelial cells (HCMECs) were treated with oxygen glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R). Meanwhile, MCAO mouse model was established to detect the expression of circHECTD1 in IS. qRT-PCR and western blot were used to test gene and protein expressions, respectively. CCK-8 assay was used to investigate the cell viability. Moreover, cell migration and tube formation were assessed by transwell and tube formation assays. In addition, RIP and luciferase assay were performed to explore the association among circHECTD1, miR-335 and NOTCH2. CircHECTD1 was significantly upregulated in IS. OGD/R significantly induced EndoMT in HCMECs, while knockdown of circHECTD1 notably reversed this phenomenon. In addition, silencing of circHECTD1 remarkably reversed OGD/R-induced promotion of HCMEC tube formation and migration. Meanwhile, circHECTD1 upregulated the level of NOTCH2 through binding with miR-335. Furthermore, miR-335 inhibited the process of EndoMT in IS via targeting NOTCH2. In summary, circHECTD1 knockdown significantly alleviated EndoMT process in HCMECs via mediation of miR-335/NOTCH2 axis. Thus, circHECTD1 might act as a potential target against IS.

Cofilin and Actin Dynamics: Multiple Modes of Regulation and Their Impacts in Neuronal Development and Degeneration

Proteins of the actin depolymerizing factor (ADF)/cofilin family are ubiquitous among eukaryotes and are essential regulators of actin dynamics and function. Mammalian neurons express cofilin-1 as the major isoform, but ADF and cofilin-2 are also expressed. All isoforms bind preferentially and cooperatively along ADP-subunits in F-actin, affecting the filament helical rotation, and when either alone or when enhanced by other proteins, promotes filament severing and subunit turnover. Although self-regulating cofilin-mediated actin dynamics can drive motility without post-translational regulation, cells utilize many mechanisms to locally control cofilin, including cooperation/competition with other proteins. Newly identified post-translational modifications function with or are independent from the well-established phosphorylation of serine 3 and provide unexplored avenues for isoform specific regulation. Cofilin modulates actin transport and function in the nucleus as well as actin organization associated with mitochondrial fission and mitophagy. Under neuronal stress conditions, cofilin-saturated F-actin fragments can undergo oxidative cross-linking and bundle together to form cofilin-actin rods. Rods form in abundance within neurons around brain ischemic lesions and can be rapidly induced in neurites of most hippocampal and cortical neurons through energy depletion or glutamate-induced excitotoxicity. In ~20% of rodent hippocampal neurons, rods form more slowly in a receptor-mediated process triggered by factors intimately connected to disease-related dementias, e.g., amyloid-β in Alzheimer’s disease. This rod-inducing pathway requires a cellular prion protein, NADPH oxidase, and G-protein coupled receptors, e.g., CXCR4 and CCR5. Here, we will review many aspects of cofilin regulation and its contribution to synaptic loss and pathology of neurodegenerative diseases.

Cofilin Signaling in the CNS Physiology and Neurodegeneration

All eukaryotic cells are composed of the cytoskeleton, which plays crucial roles in coordinating diverse cellular functions such as cell division, morphology, migration, macromolecular stabilization, and protein trafficking. The cytoskeleton consists of microtubules, intermediate filaments, and actin filaments. Cofilin, an actin-depolymerizing protein, is indispensable for regulating actin dynamics in the central nervous system (CNS) development and function. Cofilin activities are spatiotemporally orchestrated by numerous extra- and intra-cellular factors. Phosphorylation at Ser-3 by kinases attenuate cofilin’s actin-binding activity. In contrast, dephosphorylation at Ser-3 enhances cofilin-induced actin depolymerization. Cofilin functions are also modulated by various binding partners or reactive oxygen species. Although the mechanism of cofilin-mediated actin dynamics has been known for decades, recent research works are unveiling the profound impacts of cofilin dysregulation in neurodegenerative pathophysiology. For instance, oxidative stress-induced increase in cofilin dephosphorylation is linked to the accumulation of tau tangles and amyloid-beta plaques in Alzheimer’s disease. In Parkinson’s disease, cofilin activation by silencing its upstream kinases increases α-synuclein-fibril entry into the cell. This review describes the molecular mechanism of cofilin-mediated actin dynamics and provides an overview of cofilin’s importance in CNS physiology and pathophysiology.

Direct interaction of HIV gp120 with neuronal CXCR4 and CCR5 receptors induces cofilin-actin rod pathology via a cellular prion protein- and NOX-dependent mechanism

Nearly 50% of individuals with long-term HIV infection are affected by the onset of progressive HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). HIV infiltrates the central nervous system (CNS) early during primary infection where it establishes persistent infection in microglia (resident macrophages) and astrocytes that in turn release inflammatory cytokines, small neurotoxic mediators, and viral proteins. While the molecular mechanisms underlying pathology in HAND remain poorly understood, synaptodendritic damage has emerged as a hallmark of HIV infection of the CNS. Here, we report that the HIV viral envelope glycoprotein gp120 induces the formation of aberrant, rod-shaped cofilin-actin inclusions (rods) in cultured mouse hippocampal neurons via a signaling pathway common to other neurodegenerative stimuli including oligomeric, soluble amyloid-β and proinflammatory cytokines. Previous studies showed that synaptic function is impaired preferentially in the distal proximity of rods within dendrites. Our studies demonstrate gp120 binding to either chemokine co-receptor CCR5 or CXCR4 is capable of inducing rod formation, and signaling through this pathway requires active NADPH oxidase presumably through the formation of superoxide (O2-) and the expression of cellular prion protein (PrPC). These findings link gp120-mediated oxidative stress to the generation of rods, which may underlie early synaptic dysfunction observed in HAND.

Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Is Associated With Upregulation of Cofilin-1 in the Motor Cortex

Cerebral ischemia is one of the leading causes of death. Reperfusion is a critical stage after thrombolysis or thrombectomy, accompanied by oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, neuroinflammation, and defects in synapse structure. The process is closely related to the dephosphorylation of actin-binding proteins (e.g., cofilin-1) by specific phosphatases. Although studies of the molecular mechanisms of the actin cytoskeleton have been ongoing for decades, limited studies have directly investigated reperfusion-induced reorganization of actin-binding protein, and little is known about the gene expression of actin-binding proteins. The exact mechanism is still uncertain. The motor cortex is very important to save nerve function; therefore, we chose the penumbra to study the relationship between cerebral ischemia-reperfusion and actin-binding protein. After transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and reperfusion, we confirmed reperfusion and motor function deficit by cerebral blood flow and gait analysis. PCR was used to screen the high expression mRNAs in penumbra of the motor cortex. The high expression of cofilin in this region was confirmed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Western blot (WB). The change in cofilin-1 expression appears at the same time as gait imbalance, especially maximum variation and left front swing. It is suggested that cofilin-1 may partially affect motor cortex function. This result provides a potential mechanism for understanding cerebral ischemia-reperfusion.