Torpor-like Hypothermia Induced by A1 Adenosine Receptor Agonist: A Novel Approach to Protect against Neuroinflammation

Abstract

Hypothermia is a promising clinical therapy for acute injuries, including neural damage, but it also faces practical limitations due to the complexities of the equipment and procedures required. This study investigates the use of the A1 adenosine receptor (A1AR) agonist N6-cyclohexyladenosine (CHA) as a more accessible method to induce steady, torpor-like hypothermic states. Additionally, this study investigates the protective potential of CHA against LPS-induced sepsis and neuroinflammation. Our results reveal that CHA can successfully induce a hypothermic state by activating a neuronal circuit similar to the one that induces physiological torpor. This state is characterized by maintaining a steady core body temperature below 28 °C. We further found that this torpor-like state effectively mitigates neuroinflammation and preserves the integrity of the blood–brain barrier during sepsis, thereby limiting the infiltration of inflammatory factors into the central nervous system. Instead of being a direct effect of CHA, this protective effect is attributed to inhibiting pro-inflammatory responses in macrophages and reducing oxidative stress damage in endothelial cells under systemic hypothermia. These results suggest that A1AR agonists such as CHA could potentially be potent neuroprotective agents against neuroinflammation. They also shed light on possible future directions for the application of hypothermia-based therapies in the treatment of sepsis and other neuroinflammatory conditions.