Cardiopulmonary arrest (CA) is the leading cause of death and disability in the United States. CA-induced
brain injury is influenced by multifactorial processes, including reduced cerebral blood flow (hypoperfusion) and
neuroinflammation, which can lead to neuronal cell death and functional deficits. We have identified serum and
glucocorticoid-regulated kinase-1 (SGK1) as a new target in
brain ischemia previously described in the heart, liver, and kidneys (i.e., diabetes and
hypertension). Our data suggest brain SGK1
mRNA and
protein expression (i.e., hippocampus), presented with hypoperfusion (low cerebral blood flow) and
neuroinflammation, leading to further studies of the potential role of SGK1 in CA-induced
brain injury. We used a 6-min
asphyxia cardiac arrest (ACA) rat model to induce global
cerebral ischemia. Modulation of SGK1 was implemented via
GSK650394, a SGK1-specific inhibitor (1.2 μg/kg icv). Accordingly, treatment with
GSK650394 attenuated cortical hypoperfusion and
neuroinflammation (via Iba1 expression) after ACA, whereas neuronal survival was enhanced in the CA1 region of the hippocampus. Learning/
memory deficits were observed 3 days after ACA but ameliorated with
GSK650394. In conclusion, SGK1 is a major contributor to ACA-induced
brain injury and neurological deficits, while inhibition of SGK1 with
GSK650394 provided neuroprotection against CA-induced hypoperfusion,
neuroinflammation, neuronal cell death, and learning/
memory deficits. Our studies could lead to a novel, therapeutic target for alleviating
brain injury following
cerebral ischemia.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Upregulation of SGK1 exacerbates
brain injury during
cerebral ischemia. Inhibition of SGK1 affords neuroprotection against
cardiac arrest-induced hypoperfusion,
neuroinflammation, neuronal cell death, and neurological deficits.