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Final Program


Final Congress Guide

Therapeutics

1000 Section - rTMS alleviates cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats: Involvement of the Warburg effect and MerTK-mediated microglial efferocytosis

Wednesday, May 20, 2026
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM PT

    Presenting Author/Autor expositor(s)

  • YX

    Yiyang Xiao, PhD

    doctor
    Department of Rehabilitation ，Rehabilitation Medicine Center ，Rehabilitation Laboratory， the First Affiliated Hospital ，Hengyang Medical School， University of South China
    Hengyang, Hunan, China (People's Republic)

    • Co-Author/Coautor(s)

  • sL

    shuzhi Y. Li, MS

    doctor
    Department of Rehabilitation ，Rehabilitation Medicine Center ，Rehabilitation Laboratory， the First Affiliated Hospital ，Hengyang Medical School， University of South China
    Hengyang, Hunan, China (People's Republic)

  • HL

    Huamin Li, MS

    Physician
    the First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China
    Hengyang, Hunan, China (People's Republic)

  • xP

    xingke Peng, MD

    doctor
    Department of Rehabilitation ，Rehabilitation Medicine Center ，Rehabilitation Laboratory， the First Affiliated Hospital ，Hengyang Medical School， University of South China
    Hengyang, Hunan, China (People's Republic)

  • HT

    Huali Tang, MS

    None
    Department of Rehabilitation ，Rehabilitation Medicine Center ，Rehabilitation Laboratory， the First Affiliated Hospital ，Hengyang Medical School， University of South China
    Hengyang, Hunan, China (People's Republic)

    • Corresponding Author/Autor a quien dirigir la corr(s)

  • JZ

    Jun Zhou, PhD

    head of department
    Rehabilitation department
    Hengyang City, Hunan, China (People's Republic)

Objectives : This study aimed to investigate whether the mechanism by which repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) alleviates cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI) involves regulation of the Warburg effect and MerTK-mediated microglial efferocytosis, in order to elucidate a novel mechanism of rTMS against CIRI.

Design: Three-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham, model, and intervention groups (n=10 each). Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) models were established in the model and intervention groups. The intervention group received rTMS treatment 24 hours post-modeling, once daily for 7 consecutive days. After modeling (sham and model groups) or completion of rTMS intervention (intervention group), neurological function scores were assessed. Brain tissues were collected for TTC staining (evaluating infarct volume), HE staining (observing histomorphology), and Nissl staining (assessing neuronal damage). ELISA was used to measure inflammatory factors and lactate levels in cerebrospinal fluid. Immunofluorescence co-localization of Iba1 (a microglial marker) and MerTK was analyzed to calculate microglial efferocytosis efficiency. qRT-PCR and Western blot were performed to detect the expression of key proteins related to the Warburg effect, as well as mRNA and protein levels of MerTK and efferocytosis pathway molecules Gas6 and Protein S in the ischemic penumbra.

Results: Compared to the sham group, the model group exhibited neurological deficits, increased cerebral infarct volume, severe cortical damage, elevated levels of Warburg effect-related proteins, decreased expression of MerTK, Gas6, and Protein S, and reduced microglial efferocytosis efficiency. Following rTMS intervention, the intervention group showed alleviated neurological deficits, reduced cerebral infarct volume and cortical damage, decreased Warburg effect-related protein levels, increased MerTK expression, and enhanced microglial efferocytosis efficiency compared to the model group.

Conclusion: rTMS may alleviate cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats by inhibiting the Warburg effect and promoting MerTK-mediated microglial efferocytosis.