Magnesium hexacyanoferrate mitigates sepsis-associated encephalopathy through inhibiting microglial activation and neuronal cuproptosis

Sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) is a severe neurological complication stemming from sepsis, characterized by cognitive impairment. The underlying mechanisms involve oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and disruptions in copper/iron homeostasis. This study introduces magnesium hexacyanoferrate (MgHCF) as a novel compound and explores its therapeutic potential in SAE. Our investigation reveals that MgHCF features intriguing properties in effectively scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS), and chelating excess copper and iron. Treatment with MgHCF significantly attenuates microglia activation, and protects neuronal cells from oxidative damage and cytotoxicity induced by activated microglia in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, the cognitive impairment in SAE mice is effectively alleviated by MgHCF treatment, mechanically through a reduction in the copper/iron-responsive histone methylation, and neuronal cuproptosis. These findings suggest MgHCF as a promising therapeutic agent for SAE, targeting the copper/iron signaling pathway to alleviate neuroinflammation, and neuronal cuproptosis.