biostudies-literatureZheng JNational Natural Science Foundation of China2792-2799https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC6916328biostudies-literatureUnknown235(3)C-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) is a pivotal MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase), which activated by ischemia brain injury and plays a fairly crucial function in cerebral ischemic injury. Emerging studies demonstrated that JNK-IN-8 (a JNK inhibitor with high specificity) regulates traumatic brain injury through controlling neuronal apoptosis and inflammation. However, the function of JNK-IN-8 in ischemic stroke and the mechanisms underlying of JNK-IN-8 about neuroprotection are not well understood. In this work, male rats were treated with JNK-IN-8 after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion, and then the modified improved neurological function score (mNSS), the foot-fault test (FFT), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels were assessed. We found thJournal of cellular physiologyJNK-IN-8, a c-Jun N-terminal kinase inhibitor, improves functional recovery through suppressing neuroinflammation in ischemic stroke.PMC691632881774109816036858170418081973620Zheng JHan KGeng WJia DDai QFu HLv YHong WMo YTang HfalseJNK-IN-8, a c-Jun N-terminal kinase inhibitor, improves functional recovery through suppressing neuroinflammation in ischemic stroke.C-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) is a pivotal MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase), which activated by ischemia brain injury and plays a fairly crucial function in cerebral ischemic injury. Emerging studies demonstrated that JNK-IN-8 (a JNK inhibitor with high specificity) regulates traumatic brain injury through controlling neuronal apoptosis and inflammation. However, the function of JNK-IN-8 in ischemic stroke and the mechanisms underlying of JNK-IN-8 about neuroprotection are not well understood. In this work, male rats were treated with JNK-IN-8 after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion, and then the modified improved neurological function score (mNSS), the foot-fault test (FFT), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels were assessed. We found th2020-01-01T00:00:00Z2020 Mar2025-04-04T11:39:33.618Z2020-05-21T23:36:16ZS-EPMC69163283154146210.1002/jcp.29183