Systemic Administration of FC-77 Dampens Ischemia–Reperfusion-Induced Acute Lung Injury in Rats

Systemic administration of perfluorocarbons (PFCs) reportedly attenuates acute lung injury induced by acid aspiration and phorbol myristate acetate. However, the effects of PFCs on ischemia–reperfusion (IR)-induced lung injury have not been investigated. Typical acute lung injury was induced in rats by 60 min of ischemia and 60 min of reperfusion in isolated and perfused rat lung model. Rat lungs were randomly assigned to receive PBS (control), 1 % FC-77, IR only, or IR with different doses of FC-77 (0.1 %, 0.5 %, or 1 %). Subsequently, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), perfusate, and lung tissues were collected to evaluate the degree of lung injury. IR caused a significant increase in the following parameters: pulmonary arterial pressure, capillary filtration coefficient, lung weight gain, lung weight/body weight ratio, wet/dry lung weight ratio, and protein concentration in BALF. TNF-α and cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-1 concentrations in perfusate samples and MDA concentration and MPO activities in lung tissues were also significantly increased. Histopathology showed increased septal thickness and neutrophil infiltration in the lung tissues. Furthermore, NF-κB activity was significantly increased in the lungs. However, pretreatment with 1 % FC-77 prior to IR significantly attenuated the increases in these parameters. In conclusion, our results suggest that systemic FC-77 administration had a protective effect on IR-induced acute lung injury. These protective mechanisms may have been mediated by the inhibition of NF-κB activation and attenuation of subsequent inflammatory response.     

Protective Effect of Amygdalin on LPS-Induced Acute Lung Injury by Inhibiting NF-κB and NLRP3 Signaling Pathways

The acute lung injury (ALI) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. Amygdalin is derived from the bitter apricot kernel, an efficacious Chinese herbal medicine. Although amygdalin is used by many cancer patients as an antitumor agent, there is no report about the effect of amygdalin on acute lung injury. Here we explored the protective effect of amygdalin on ALI using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced murine model by detecting the lung wet/dry ratio, the myeloperoxidase (MPO) in lung tissues, inflammatory cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), inflammatory cytokines production, as well as NLRP3 and NF-κB signaling pathways. The results showed that amygdalin significantly reduced LPS-induced infiltration of inflammatory cells and the production of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in the BALF. The activity of MPO and lung wet/dry ratio were also attenuated by amygdalin. Furthermore, the western blotting analysis showed that amygdalin remarkably inhibited LPS-induced NF-κB and NLRP3 activation. These findings indicate that amygdalin has a protective effect on LPS-induced ALI in mice. The mechanism may be related to the inhibition of NF-κB and NLRP3 signaling pathways.     

Protective Effects of Neural Crest-Derived Stem Cell-Conditioned Media against Ischemia-Reperfusion-Induced Lung Injury in Rats

Current treatments for ischemia-reperfusion (IR)-induced acute lung injury are limited. Mesenchymal stem cell-conditioned medium (CM) has been reported to attenuate lung injury. Neural crest stem cells (NCSCs), a type of multipotent stem cells, are more easily obtained than mesenchymal stem cells. We hypothesize that NCSC-CM has anti-inflammatory properties that could protect against IR-induced lung injury in rats. In this study, NCSC-CM was derived from rat NCSCs. Typical acute lung injury was induced by 30-min ischemia followed by 90-min reperfusion in adult male Sprague–Dawley rats. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissues were collected to analyze the degree of lung injury after the experiment. NCSC-CM was administered before ischemia and after reperfusion. NCSC-CM treatment significantly attenuated IR-induced lung edema, as indicated by decreases in pulmonary vascular permeability, lung weight gain, wet to dry weight ratio, lung weight to body weight ratio, pulmonary arterial pressure, and protein level in BALF. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 in the BALF were also significantly decreased. Additionally, NCSC-CM improved lung pathology and neutrophil infiltration in the lung tissue, and significantly suppressed nuclear factor (NF)-κB activity and IκB-α degradation in the lung. However, heating NCSC-CM eliminated these protective effects. Our experiment demonstrates that NCSC-CM treatment decreases IR-induced acute lung injury and that the protective mechanism may be attributable to the inhibition of NF-κB activation and the inflammatory response. Therefore, NCSC-CM may be a novel approach for treating IR-induced lung injury.     

黑木耳多糖对内毒素诱导急性肺损伤大鼠肺组织的保护作用

目的:探讨黑木耳多糖对LPS诱导急性肺损伤大鼠肺组织的保护作用及其机制。方法:将健康SD大鼠随机分为对照组、LPS组、地塞米松组以及黑木耳多糖低、中、高浓度组,根据分组,分别给予生理盐水或不同浓度黑木耳多糖预防性灌胃7 d,第8天腹腔注射生理盐水或LPS(8 mg/kg),地塞米松组在给予LPS后腹腔注射地塞米松(3 mg/kg)。造模12 h后于腹主动脉取血,并制肺组织匀浆和肺泡灌洗液。检测支气管肺泡灌洗液中蛋白含量、肺湿/干重比、髓过氧化物酶(MPO)、总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)、总超氧化物歧化酶(T-SOD)、一氧化氮合酶(NOS)、丙二醛(MDA)等指标,做组织切片HE染色并进行肺损伤评分。结果:应用黑木耳多糖干预后,急性肺损伤大鼠支气管肺泡灌洗液中蛋白含量明显下降,肺湿/干重比值降低;大鼠肺组织中MPO、NOS活性及MDA含量较LPS组降低,T-AOC含量和T-SOD活性较之升高;肺组织病理改变减轻,肺损伤指数下降。结论:黑木耳多糖具有保护LPS损伤大鼠肺组织的作用,其机制可能与其抗氧化作用有关。     

Protective Effect of p-Cymene on Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Lung Injury in Mice

In the previous study, the anti-inflammatory effect of p-cymene had been found. In this study, we investigated anti-inflammatory effects of p-cymene on acute lung injury using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) mouse model. The cell counting in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was measured. The animal lung edema degree was evaluated by wet/dry weight (W/D) ratio. The superoxidase dismutase (SOD) activity and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity was assayed by SOD and MPO kits, respectively. The levels of inflammatory mediators including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), IL-1β, and IL-6 were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. The pathological changes of the lung tissues were observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. The inflammatory signal pathway-related protein levels of NF-κB were measured using Western blotting. The data showed that treatment with the p-cymene markedly attenuated inflammatory cell numbers in the BALF, decreased NF-κB protein level in the lungs, improved SOD activity, and inhibited MPO activity. Histological studies demonstrated that p-cymene substantially inhibited LPS-induced neutrophils in the lung tissue compared with the model group. The results indicated that p-cymene had a protective effect on LPS-induced ALI in mice.     

Azilsartan attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury via the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a severe complication of sepsis and hemorrhagic shock with high morbidity. In the present study, the protective effect of Azilsartan on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI in mice was investigated to explore the potential therapeutic property of Azilsartan for the treatment of ALI. LPS was used to induce an ALI model in mice. Hematoxylin–eosin (HE) staining sections were then evaluated for the pathological state of lung tissues. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) protein concentration, wet/dry weight ratios of lung tissues, and pulmonary myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were detected to determine the degree of pulmonary injury. The number of total cells, macrophages, and neutrophils in BALF were counted using a hemocytometer to illustrate the inflammatory cell infiltration. The lung function was monitored using a spirometer. The concentrations of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and interleukin-8 (IL-8) were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Oxidative stress was evaluated by the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, glutathione (GSH), and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations in the lung tissue. The expressions of nuclear erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were determined using Western blot analysis. Azilsartan therapy alleviated LPS-induced lung tissue damage, increased BALF protein concentration, lung wet to dry weight ratio, MPO activity, and macrophage and neutrophils infiltration. Also, Azilsartan ameliorated the production of inflammatory factors (IL-1β, MCP-1, and IL-8). Azilsartan ameliorated LPS-impaired lung SOD activity, the GSH concentration, and the MDA concentration. Mechanistically, Azilsartan activated the LPS-impaired Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway. Azilsartan therapy attenuates LPS-induced ALI via the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.

     

Artesunate Protects LPS-Induced Acute Lung Injury by Inhibiting TLR4 Expression and Inducing Nrf2 Activation

Artesunate, a derivative of artemisinin, has been reported to have anti-inflammatory property. However, few studies showed the protective effects of artesunate on lung injury. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of artesunate on LPS-induced lung injury in mice. The mice were treated with artesunate 1 h before or after LPS treatment. The effects of artesunate on lung MPO activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were detected. The lung wet/dry radio and the numbers of inflammatory cells in BALF were also measured. ELISA was used to evaluate the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in BALF. Western blot analysis was adapted to detect TLR4 and Nrf2 signaling pathways. The results showed that artesunate protected against LPS-induced ALI by decreasing the numbers of inflammatory cells, lung edema, MPO activity, and MDA content. Furthermore, artesunate significantly inhibited the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. Artesunate also inhibited LPS-induced IL-6 and IL-8 production in the A549 cells. In addition, artesunate dose-dependently suppressed LPS-induced TLR4 expression and NF-κB activation. The expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 were also up-regulated by artesunate. The data suggest that artesunate possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties against LPS-induced ALI via inhibiting TLR4 signaling pathway and activating Nrf2 signaling pathway.     

血红素氧合酶对大鼠肺缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用

探讨血红素氧合酶 1(HO 1)对大鼠肺缺血再灌注损伤 (I/R)的保护作用。Wistar大鼠随机分成假手术 (sham)组、I/R组、Hemin组和ZnPP IX组。采用夹闭大鼠左肺门 30min ,再灌注 12 0min ,分别观察各组HO 1活性 ,肺组织形态学变化 ,肺湿干重比、伊文思蓝含量、支气管肺泡灌洗液 (BALF)中细胞计数及蛋白含量变化。与sham组比较 ,I/R组和hemin组肺组织HO 1活性显著增高 (P <0 0 1) ,ZnPP IX组能取消hemin诱导的HO 1活性增高 (P <0 0 1)。光镜下可见I/R组和ZnPP IX组肺组织水肿 ,部分动物肺泡腔中可见出血 ,并伴有局部肺不张 ,而hemin组肺组织形态学改变明显减轻。Hemin组肺湿干重比、伊文思蓝含量、BALF中细胞数和蛋白含量均低于I/R组和ZnPP IX组 ,但仍高于sham组 (P <0 0 1)。结果提示 ,HO 1对在体大鼠肺I/R损伤具有部分保护作用     

内毒素急性肺损伤中p38MAPK、NF-κB 与HO-1的关系

目的: 探讨内毒素急性肺损伤中丝裂原活化蛋白激酶p38(p38MAPK)、核转录因子κB( NF-κB)与血红素氧合酶-1(HO-1)的相互关系。方法: 健康雄性Wistar大鼠40只,随机分为5组(n=8):对照组或生理盐水组(NS组)、内毒素组(LPS组)、血红素氧合酶-1诱导剂血晶素+内毒素组(Hemin+LPS组)、血红素氧合酶-1抑制剂锌原卟啉IX+内毒素组(ZnPPIX+LPS组)、p38MAPK抑制剂SB203580+内毒素组(SB+LPS组)。气管内滴注LPS或NS 6h后检测动脉血气,右肺肺泡灌洗液(BALF)中性粒细胞比、蛋白含量,右肺上叶肺组织湿/干重比;用Western blotting检测右肺下叶p38MAPK、NF-κB蛋白的表达;用免疫组化检测右肺中叶HO-1蛋白的表达,并进行病理学观察。结果: 与NS组比较,LPS组、Hemin+LPS组、SB+LPS组、ZnPPIX+LPS组肺组织湿/干重比明显增加(P<0.05),BALF中性粒细胞比、蛋白含量显著增加(P<0.05或P<0.01),动脉血PaO₂、PaCO₂和HCO^-₃显著下降(P<0.05),肺组织p38MAPK、NF-κB蛋白表达明显增高(P<0.05),HO-1强阳性表达(P<0.01或P<0.05);与LPS组比较,Hemin+LPS 组、SB+LPS组肺组织湿/干重比,肺泡灌洗液中性粒细胞比、蛋白含量明显减少(P<0.05),p38MAPK、NF-κB蛋白表达显著降低(P<0.05),HO-1的表达明显升高(P<0.05),而ZnPPIX+LPS组恰好相反;Hemin+LPS 组、SB+LPS组之间动脉血PaO₂、PaCO₂和HCO^-₃,BALF中性粒细胞比、蛋白含量,肺组织湿/干重比,肺组织p38MAPK/NF-κB及HO-1蛋白的表达均无显著差异(P>0.05)。ZnPPIX+LPS组肺组织损伤最重,LPS组次之,Hemin+LPS组和SB+LPS组最轻。结论: 在内毒素急性肺损伤中p38MAPK/NF-κB与HO-1相互抑制,各自独立发挥作用。     

Effect of a Stellate Ganglion Block on Acute Lung Injury in Septic Rats

A stellate ganglion block (SGB) is a clinical sympathetic block which can inhibit the body systemic inflammatory response. However, whether and how SGB can attenuate the sepsis-induced acute lung injury remains unclear. Here, we evaluated the effect of SGB on sepsis-induced acute lung injury in rats. Ninety healthy Sprague Dawley (SD) male rats were divided into three groups: the sham operation group (S group), sepsis group (Sep group), and SGB group. The sepsis model rats were produced by cecum ligation and puncture (CLP), and blood samples were taken from the abdominal aorta of the rats at different time points for evaluating the concentration of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The rats were sacrificed, and lungs were collected to measure the wet/dry (W/D) lung tissue weight ratio, score the lung tissue pathological damage by microscopic examination, determine the myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity by spectrophotometry, and measure nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) p65 expression by Western blot. The concentration of serum TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10, lung tissue W/D ratio, pathological injury score, MPO activity, and expression of NF-κB p65 were higher in the Sep group compared with the S group at T_1–4. Furthermore, the concentration of serum TNF-α and IL-6, lung tissue W/D ratio, pathological damage score, MPO activity, and expression of NF-κB p65 were reduced and the concentration of IL-10 was increased in the SGB group compared with the Sep group at T_1–4. The successful sepsis model rats were induced by CLP, and SGB attenuated the sepsis-induced acute lung injury in rats.     

Modulation of LPS-Stimulated Pulmonary Inflammation by Borneol in Murine Acute Lung Injury Model

The object of our study is to investigate the protective effects of Borneol on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in mice. To determine the effects of Borneol on the histopathological changes in mice with ALI, inflammatory cell count in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung wet/dry weight ratio were measured in LPS-challenged mice, and lung histopathologic changes observed via paraffin section were assessed. Next, cytokine production induced by LPS in BALF and RAW 264.7 cells was measured by enzyme-linked imunosorbent assay (ELISA). To further study the mechanism of Borneol-protective effects on ALI, nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) pathways were investigated. In the present study, Borneol obviously alleviated pulmonary inflammation by reducing inflammatory infiltration, histopathological changes, descended cytokine production, and pulmonary edema initiated by LPS. Furthermore, Borneol significantly suppressed phosphorylation of NF-κB/P65, IκBa, p38, JNK, and ERK. Taken together, our results suggest that Borneol suppressed inflammatory responses in LPS-induced acute lung injury through inhibition of the NF-κB and MAPKs signaling pathways. Borneol may be a promising potential preventive agent for acute lung injury treatment.     

Fisetin Alleviates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Lung Injury via TLR4-Mediated NF-κB Signaling Pathway in Rats

Acute lung injury (ALI), a common component of systemic inflammatory disease, is a life-threatening condition without many effective treatments. Fisetin, a natural flavonoid from fruits and vegetables, was reported to have wide pharmacological properties such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer activities. The aim of this study was to detect the effects of fisetin on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury and investigate the potential mechanism. Fisetin was injected (1, 2, and 4 mg/kg, i.v.) 30 min before LPS administration (5 mg/kg, i.v.). Our results showed that fisetin effectively reduced the inflammatory cytokine release and total protein in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF), decreased the lung wet/dry ratios, and obviously improved the pulmonary histology in LPS-induced ALI. Furthermore, fisetin inhibited LPS-induced increases of neutrophils and macrophage infiltration and attenuated MPO activity in lung tissues. Additionally, fisetin could significantly inhibit the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) expression and the activation of NF-κB in lung tissues. Our data indicates that fisetin has a protective effect against LPS-induced ALI via suppression of TLR4-mediated NF-κB signaling pathways, and fisetin may be a promising candidate for LPS-induced ALI treatment.     

川芎嗪通过AMPK/NF-κB和Nrf-2/HO-1途径减轻过敏性气道炎症和氧化应激的实验研究

目的 本研究旨在探讨川芎嗪对过敏性炎症反应和氧化应激的影响,并探讨其机制是否与AMPK/NF-κB和Nrf-2/HO-1信号通路有关.方法 用组织化学染色来观察小鼠肺组织病理学改变;小鼠支气管肺泡灌洗液(bronchoalveolar lavage fluid,BALF)中炎症细胞数量用Diff-quik染色法检测;用...     

1,8-Cineol Attenuates LPS-Induced Acute Pulmonary Inflammation in Mice

Eucalyptol, also known as 1,8-cineol, is a monoterpene and has been shown to exert anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect. It is traditionally used to treat respiratory disorders due to its secretolytic properties. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of 1,8-cineol on pulmonary inflammation in a mouse model of acute lung injury. We found that 1,8-cineol significantly decreased the level of TNF-α and IL-1β, and increased the level of IL-10 in lung tissues after acute lung injury induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). It also reduced the expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) p65 and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), and myeloperoxidase activity in lung tissues. In addition, 1,8-cineol reduced the amounts of inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), including neutrophils and macrophages, and significantly decreased the protein content in BALF and the lung wet/dry weight (W/D) ratio. Its effect on LPS-induced pulmonary inflammation was associated with suppression of TLR4 and NF-κB expressions. Our results provide evidence that 1,8-cineol inhibits acute pulmonary inflammation, indicating its potential for the treatment of acute lung injury.     

蛋白转导Rab GEF1减轻小鼠肝脏缺血再灌注所致的肺损伤

目的:探讨转录反式激活因子-Rab鸟嘌呤核苷酸交换因子1(Tat-RabGEF1)融合蛋白对小鼠肝脏缺血再灌注(IR)所致肺损伤的作用及其可能的机制。方法:选用雄性C57BL/6小鼠24只,按随机数字表法分为假手术(sham)组、IR组和Tat-RabGEF1组,每组8只。采用肝脏缺血90 min再灌注4 h制备肺损伤模型,Tat-Rab-GEF1组于再灌注即刻经尾静脉注射Tat-RabGEF1 (10 mg/kg)。再灌注4 h后处死小鼠,收集支气管肺泡灌洗液(BALF),采用ELISA法检测BALF中肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)、白细胞介素6 (IL-6)和白细胞介素1β(IL-1β)的含量;取肺组织进行病理学检测,测定湿/干重比、β-氨基己糖苷酶(β-Hex A)和髓过氧化物酶(MPO)水平,并采用Western blot法测定肺组织类胰蛋白酶的表达水平。结果:(1)肝缺血90 min再灌注4 h肺组织病理损伤明显,湿/干重比增高,Tat-RabGEF1尾静脉注射明显减轻肺脏病理损伤。(2)与IR组比较,Tat-RabGEF1组BALF中TNF-α、IL-6和IL-1β浓度,以及肺组织β-Hex A、MPO水平和类胰蛋白酶表达显著降低(P 0.05)。结论:体内蛋白转导Rab GEF1减轻肝IR所致的肺损伤,减少肺组织炎症反应和细胞因子水平,其机制可能与抑制肥大细胞激活有关。     

盐酸戊乙奎醚抑制脂多糖致急性肺损伤大鼠肺组织中PMN扣押和NF-κB活化

目的：观察盐酸戊乙奎醚(PHC)对脂多糖(LPS)致急性肺损伤(ALI)大鼠中性粒细胞(PMN)肺内扣押及对肺组织核因子κB（NF-κB）活化的影响。方法： SD大鼠随机分为对照组、LPS模型组（静脉注射5 mg/kg LPS）、LPS+PHC高、中和低(3.0、1.0和0.3 mg/kg)3个剂量组，每组8只，用比色法测定肺组织髓过氧化物酶(MPO)活性，进行支气管肺泡灌洗液(BALF)PMN计数，蛋白免疫印迹法检测肺组织NF-κB的表达。结果： PHC显著降低ALI大鼠肺组织MPO活性、BALF中PMN计数比例（均P＜0.05)；ALI组大鼠肺组织磷酸化NF-κB的表达显著高于正常对照组（P＜0.05)；PHC高、中剂量组能显著抑制大鼠肺组织磷酸化NF-κB表达高于ALI模型组（均P＜0.05)；在造模后不同的时点观察，PHC对磷酸化NF-κB表达的作用有差别，以造模后6 h时最能有效抑制磷酸化NF-κB上调。结论： PHC能抑制LPS诱导ALI大鼠PMN在肺内扣押和肺组织NF-κB活化，PHC抑制LPS诱导PMN肺内扣押可能与抑制NF-κB活化有关，后者有待进一步验证。     

藤黄酸减轻脂多糖诱导的小鼠急性肺损伤

目的探讨藤黄酸(GA)对脂多糖(LPS)所致小鼠急性肺损伤的保护作用及其机制。方法采用尾静脉注射LPS(4 mg/kg)建立小鼠急性肺损伤模型。实验将小鼠随机分为对照组(control组)、模型组(model组)、藤黄酸组(GA组)和藤黄酸预处理组(GA+LPS组),6 h后测定肺湿/干重比值(W/D);检测髓过氧化物酶(MPO)活性;检测肺泡灌洗液(BALF)中蛋白含量和白细胞计数;ELISA检测肺匀浆中白介素-1β(IL-1β)和肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)含量。结果模型组小鼠肺W/D、MPO活性、BALF中蛋白含量和白细胞数量均增加,肺组织IL-1β和TNF-α水平升高(均P0.01);藤黄酸预处理可减轻LPS引起的以上指标变化(均P0.05)。结论 GA可减轻LPS诱导的急性肺损伤,其机制可能与降低肺组织IL-1β和TNF-α的含量、抑制中性粒细胞在肺部的聚集和减轻肺部水肿相关。     

Artesunate Protects Against Sepsis-Induced Lung Injury Via Heme Oxygenase-1 Modulation

Artesunate, a derivative of artemisinin, has anti-inflammatory properties and exerts protective roles in sepsis. Heme oxygense-1 (HO-1) inhibits the inflammatory response through reduction of proinflammatory cytokines and leukocyte influx into tissues. The present study investigated the effects of artesunate on HO-1 and septic lung injury. Cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) was employed to induce septic lung injury. Mice pretreated with artesunate (AS) (15 mg/kg) exhibited decreased sepsis-induced mortality and lung injury and alleviated lung pathological changes and neutrophil infiltration. In addition, AS lowered the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and inhibited cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase isoform (iNOS) expression and NF-κB activation in lung tissue. In addition, AS enhanced NF-E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) activation and HO-1 expression and enzymatic activity in lung tissue. However, the protective effects of AS on sepsis-induced lung injury were eliminated by ZnPP IX, an HO-1 competitive inhibitor. Therefore, AS plays protective roles in septic lung injury related to the upregulation of HO-1. These findings suggest an effective and applicable treatment to sepsis-induced lung injury and provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms and actions of AS.     

Anti-inflammatory Role of Pilose Antler Peptide in LPS-Induced Lung Injury

The present study was designed to investigate the effects of pilose antler peptide (PAP) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced lung injury. BalB/c mice intraperitoneally received PAP (10 and 20 mg/kg) or dexamethasone (2 mg/kg) 1 h prior to intratracheal instillation of LPS. PAP significantly decreased lung wet-to-dry weight (W/D) ratio and lung myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and restored LPS-induced lung histopathological changes. PAP also increased super oxide dismutase (SOD) level and inhibited malondialdehyde (MDA) content and levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in LPS-stimulated mice. Furthermore, we demonstrated that PAP inhibited Rho/NF-κB pathway in LPS-induced mice. Our experimental results indicated that the protective mechanism of PAP might be attributed partly to the inhibition of Rho/NF-κB pathway.     

Protective effect of gossypol on lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in mice

Objective

Gossypol has been reported to have anti-inflammatory properties. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of gossypol on acute lung injury (ALI) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in mice.

Methods

Male BALB/c mice were pretreated with gossypol 1 h before intranasal instillation of LPS. Then, 7 h after LPS administration, the myeloperoxidase in histology of lungs, lung wet/dry ratio and inflammatory cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were determined. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in the BALF were measured by ELISA. The extent of phosphorylation of IκB-α, p65 NF-κB, p46–p54 JNK, p42–p44 ERK, and p38 were detected by western blot.

Results

Gossypol markedly attenuated the LPS-induced histological alterations in the lung and inhibited the production of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6. Additionally, gossypol reduced the inflammatory cells in BALF, decreased the wet/dry ratio of lungs and inhibited the phosphorylation of IκB-α, p65 NF-κB, p46–p54 JNK, p42–p44 ERK, and p38 caused by LPS.

Conclusion

The data suggest that anti-inflammatory effects of gossypol against the LPS-induced ALI may be due to its ability of inhibition of the NF-κB and MAPKs signaling pathways. Gossypol may be a promising potential therapeutic reagent for ALI treatment.