Berberine in combination with yohimbine attenuates sepsis-induced neutrophil tissue infiltration and multiorgan dysfunction partly via IL-10-mediated inhibition of CCR2 expression in neutrophils

Caffeic acid modulates activation of neutrophils and attenuates sepsis-induced organ injury by inhibiting 5-LOX/LTB4 pathway

BACKGROUND

Sepsis is a critical systemic inflammatory syndrome which usually leads to multiple organ dysfunction. Caffeic acid (CA), a phenolic compound derived from various plants, has been proved to be essential in neuroprotection, but its role in septic organ damage is unclear. This research aimed to investigate whether CA protects against organ injury in a mouse model of cecal ligation and puncture (CLP).

METHODS

CA (30 mg/kg) or vehicle was administered by intraperitoneal injection immediately after CLP. The samples of blood, lungs, and livers were collected 24 h later. Organ injury was assessed by histopathological examination (HE staining), neutrophil infiltration (myeloperoxidase fluorescence), oxidative stress levels (MDA, SOD, HO-1), and inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) release in lung and liver tissues. Neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation was analyzed by immunofluorescence. In vitro experiments were performed to investigate the potential mechanisms of CA using small interfering RNA (siRNA) techniques in neutrophils, and the effect of CA on neutrophil apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

Results showed that CA treatment improved the 7-day survival rate and attenuated the histopathological injury in the lung and liver of CLP mice. CA significantly reduced neutrophil infiltration in the lungs and livers of CLP mice. TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and LTB4 were reduced in serum, lung, and liver of CA-treated CLP mice, and phosphorylation of MAPK (p38, ERK, JNK) and p65 NF-κB was inhibited in lungs and livers. CA treatment further increased HO-1 levels and enhanced superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, but reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and NET formation. Similarly, in vitro experiments showed that CA treatment and 5-LOX siRNA interference inhibited inflammatory activation and NET release in neutrophils, suppressed MAPK and NF-κB phosphorylation in LPS-treated neutrophils, and decreased LTB4 and cfDNA levels. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that CA treatment reversed LPS-mediated delayed apoptosis in human neutrophils, and Western blot also indicated that CA treatment inhibited Bcl-2 expression but increased Bax expression. CA treatment did not induce further changes in neutrophil apoptosis, inflammatory activation, and NET release when 5-LOX was knocked down by siRNA interference.

CONCLUSIONS

CA has a protective effect on lung and liver injury in a murine model of sepsis, which may be related to inhibition of the 5-LOX/LTB4 pathway.

Effects of Combinations of Toxin Binders with or without Natural Components on Broiler Breeders Exposed to Ochratoxin A

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of toxin binders on broiler breeders fed an ochratoxin A (OTA)-contaminated diet. A total of 60 45-week-old female Arbor Acres broiler breeder birds with an initial body weight of 3.65 ± 0.35 kg were randomly divided into 6 treatment groups, with 10 replicates per group and 1 bird per replicate. The trial was conducted for 9 weeks (including 1 week of adaptation). Feed additive 1 (FA1) was composed of clay minerals (85% bentonite and 12% clinoptilolite) with 3% charcoal. FA2 was composed of clay minerals (66.1% aluminosilicates) with natural components (0.8% artichoke and rosemary plant extracts), 7% yeast extract, 0.5% beta-glucans, and 25.6% carriers. The dietary treatment groups were as follows: (1) birds fed an OTA-free basal diet (Negative Control; NC); (2) lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged birds fed a diet including OTA (4 mg/kg) (Positive Control, PC); (3) the PC with 0.05% FA1 (Treatment 1, T1); (4) the PC with 0.10% FA1 (Treatment 2, T2); (5) the PC with 0.10% FA2 (Treatment 3, T3); and (6) the PC with 0.20% FA2 (Treatment 4, T4). The LPS challenge (an intramuscular injection of 1 mg E. coli O55:B5 LPS per kg of body weight) was performed on the first day of the experiment. The results of this experiment show that the PC treatment negatively affected (p < 0.05) egg production, hatchability, Haugh unit, bone mineralization, relative organ weight (abdominal fat, liver), the levels of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and total cholesterol in the blood, and OTA accumulation in the liver compared with the NC. However, supplementation with toxin binders mitigated (p < 0.05) the negative effects of the OTA. Specifically, supplementation with 0.10% FA1 and 0.10% FA2 increased (p < 0.05) eggshell strength by week 4, and the Haugh unit and bone mineralization (phosphorous) by week 8, while decreasing (p < 0.05) the relative weight of the liver and the levels of GOT and HDL in the blood. Supplementation with 0.10% FA2 led to greater improvements in various parameters, including laying performance and bone mineralization, than the other treatments. In conclusion, toxin binders with or without natural components can be effective tools in the mitigation of OTA-induced problems due to their synergistic effects.

Ameliorating effects of berberine on sepsis-associated lung inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide: molecular mechanisms and preclinical evidence

As a life-threatening disorder, sepsis-associated lung injury is a dysregulated inflammatory response to microbial infection, characterized by the infiltration of inflammatory cells into lung tissues and excessive production of pro-inflammatory mediators. Therefore, immunomodulatory/anti-inflammatory agents are a potential treatment for sepsis-associated lung injury. Berberine, one of the well-studied medicinal plant-derived compounds, has shown promising anti-inflammatory potential in inflammatory conditions, through modulating excessive immune responses induced by various immune cells. A systematic literature search in electronic databases indicated several publications that studied the effect of berberine on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sepsis in preclinical investigations. The current review article aims to provide evidence on the effects of berberine against LPS-induced acute lung injury (ALI), together with underlying molecular mechanisms. The findings reveal that berberine through inhibiting the excessive production of multiple pro-inflammatory cytokines, suppressing the infiltration of immune cells into lung tissues, as well as preventing pulmonary edema and coagulation, can relieve pulmonary histopathological changes from LPS-mediated inflammation, thereby attenuating sepsis-associated lung injury and lethality in the experimental models. In conclusion, berberine shows great potential as a preventing and therapeutic agent for sepsis-associated lung injury, however, further proof-of-concept studies and clinical investigations are warranted for translating these preclinical findings into clinical practices.

Berberine Alleviates Acute Lung Injury in Septic Mice by Modulating Treg/Th17 Homeostasis and Downregulating NF-κB Signaling

Purpose

A common complication of sepsis is acute lung injury (ALI), which is associated with an acute onset, rapid disease changes, and high mortality. Regulatory T (Treg) and T helper 17 (Th17) cells comprise CD4⁺ T cell subsets, which strongly influence inflammation during ALI. In this study, we investigated the effect of berberine (BBR), an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory drug, on the inflammatory response and immune state in mice with sepsis.

Methods

A mouse model of cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) was established. The mice were intragastrically administered 50 mg/kg BBR. We used histological techniques to evaluate inflammatory tissue injury and flow cytometry for analyzing Treg/Th17 levels. We also assessed NF-κB signaling pathways by Western blotting assays and immunofluorescence staining. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to measure the content of cytokines.

Results

Treatment with BBR considerably mitigated lung injury while improving survival, post-cecal ligation, and puncture (CLP). Treatment with BBR ameliorated pulmonary edema and hypoxemia in septic mice and inhibited the NF-κB signaling pathway. BBR also increased Treg cells and decreased Th17 proportions in the spleen and lung tissue of CLP-treated mice. Blocking Treg cells weakened the protective effect of BBR on sepsis-associated lung injury.

Conclusion

Overall, these results suggested that BBR is a potential therapeutic agent for sepsis.

Study on the protective effect of berberine treatment on sepsis based on gut microbiota and metabolomic analysis

Introduction

Sepsis, an infection with multiorgan dysfunction, is a serious burden on human health. Berberine (BBR), a bioactive component, has a protective effect on sepsis and the effect may be related to gut microbiota. However, studies on the role of BBR with gut microbiota in sepsis are lacking. Therefore, this study investigated the ameliorative effects and the underlying mechanisms of BBR on cecal ligature and puncture (CLP) rats.

Methods

This study has observed the effect of BBR on pathological injury, Inflammation, intestinal barrier function, gut microbiota, and metabolite change in CLP rats by Hematoxylin-eosin staining, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, flow cytometry, 16S rDNA, and metabolomics analyses.

Results

The inhibition effects of BBR treatment on the histological damage of the lung, kidney, and ileum, the interleukin (IL)-1b, IL-6, IL-17A, and monocyte chemokine-1 levels in serum in CLP rats were proved. Also, the BBR inhibited the diamine-oxidase and fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran 40 levels, suggesting it can improve intestinal barrier function disorders. The cluster of differentiation (CD) 4⁺, CD8⁺, and CD25⁺ Forkhead box protein P3 (Foxp3) + T lymphocytes in splenocytes were up-regulated by BBR, while the IL-17A+CD4+ cell level was decreased. The abundance of gut microbiota in CLP rats was significantly different from that of the sham and BBR treatment rats. The significantly changed metabolites in the serum mainly included carbohydrates, phenols, benzoic acids, alcohols, vitamins et al. Additionally, this study predicted that the biological mechanism of BBR to ameliorate sepsis involves glycolysis-, nucleotide-, and amino acid-related metabolic pathways.

Discussion

This study proved the strong correlation between the improvement effect of BBR on sepsis and gut microbiota and analyzed by metabolomics that gut microbiota may improve CLP rats through metabolites, providing a scientific basis for BBR to improve sepsis and a new direction for the study of the biological mechanism.

Cytokine storm-calming property of the isoquinoline alkaloids in Coptis chinensis Franch

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has spread worldwide and its effects have been more devastating than any other infectious disease. Importantly, patients with severe COVID-19 show conspicuous increases in cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-6, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, IL-1, IL-18, and IL-17, with characteristics of the cytokine storm (CS). Although recently studied cytokine inhibitors are considered as potent and targeted approaches, once an immunological complication like CS happens, anti-viral or anti-inflammation based monotherapy alone is not enough. Interestingly, certain isoquinoline alkaloids in Coptis chinensis Franch. (CCFIAs) exerted a multitude of biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, and immunomodulatory etc, revealing a great potential for calming CS. Therefore, in this timeline review, we report and compare the effects of CCFIAs to attenuate the exacerbation of inflammatory responses by modulating signaling pathways like NF-ĸB, mitogen-activated protein kinase, JAK/STAT, and NLRP3. In addition, we also discuss the role of berberine (BBR) in two different triggers of CS, namely sepsis and viral infections, as well as its clinical applications. These evidence provide a rationale for considering CCFIAs as therapeutic agents against inflammatory CS and this suggestion requires further validation with clinical studies.

BCG vaccination-induced emergency granulopoiesis provides rapid protection from neonatal sepsis

Death from sepsis in the neonatal period remains a serious threat for millions. Within 3 days of administration, bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination can reduce mortality from neonatal sepsis in human newborns, but the underlying mechanism for this rapid protection is unknown. We found that BCG was also protective in a mouse model of neonatal polymicrobial sepsis, where it induced granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) within hours of administration. This was necessary and sufficient to drive emergency granulopoiesis (EG), resulting in a marked increase in neutrophils. This increase in neutrophils was directly and quantitatively responsible for protection from sepsis. Rapid induction of EG after BCG administration also occurred in three independent cohorts of human neonates.

CCR2 mediates the adverse effects of LPS in the pregnant mouse

In our earlier work, we found that intrauterine (i.u.) and intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of LPS (10-μg serotype 0111:B4) induced preterm labor (PTL) with high pup mortality, marked systemic inflammatory response and hypotension. Here, we used both i.u. and i.p. LPS models in pregnant wild-type (wt) and CCR2 knockout (CCR2-/-) mice on E16 to investigate the role played by the CCL2/CCR2 system in the response to LPS. Basally, lower numbers of monocytes and macrophages and higher numbers of neutrophils were found in the myometrium, placenta, and blood of CCR2-/- vs. wt mice. After i.u. LPS, parturition occurred at 14 h in both groups of mice. At 7 h post-injection, 70% of wt pups were dead vs. 10% of CCR2-/- pups, but at delivery 100% of wt and 90% of CCR2-/- pups were dead. Myometrial and placental monocytes and macrophages were generally lower in CCR2-/- mice, but this was less consistent in the circulation, lung, and liver. At 7 h post-LPS, myometrial ERK activation was greater and JNK and p65 lower and the mRNA levels of chemokines were higher and of inflammatory cytokines lower in CCR2-/- vs. wt mice. Pup brain and placental inflammation were similar. Using the IP LPS model, we found that all measures of arterial pressure increased in CCR2-/- but declined in wt mice. These data suggest that the CCL2/CCR2 system plays a critical role in the cardiovascular response to LPS and contributes to pup death but does not influence the onset of inflammation-induced PTL.

GJA1-20k attenuates Ang II-induced pathological cardiac hypertrophy by regulating gap junction formation and mitochondrial function

Cardiac hypertrophy (CH) is characterized by an increase in cardiomyocyte size, and is the most common cause of cardiac-related sudden death. A decrease in gap junction (GJ) coupling and mitochondrial dysfunction are important features of CH, but the mechanisms of decreased coupling and energy impairment are poorly understood. It has been reported that GJA1-20k has a strong tropism for mitochondria and is required for the trafficking of connexin 43 (Cx43) to cell-cell borders. In this study, we investigated the effects of GJA1-20k on Cx43 GJ coupling and mitochondrial function in the pathogenesis of CH. We performed hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Masson staining, and observed significant CH in 18-week-old male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) compared to age-matched normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. In cardiomyocytes from SHRs, the levels of Cx43 at the intercalated disc (ID) and the expression of GJA1-20k were significantly reduced, whereas JAK-STAT signaling was activated. Furthermore, the SHR rats displayed suppressed mitochondrial GJA1-20k and mitochondrial biogenesis. Administration of valsartan (10 mg· [Formula: see text] d-1, i.g., for 8 weeks) prevented all of these changes. In neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCMs), overexpression of GJA1-20k attenuated Ang II-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and caused elevated levels of GJ coupling at the cell-cell borders. Pretreatment of NRCMs with the Jak2 inhibitor AG490 (10 µM) blocked Ang II-induced reduction in GJA1-20k expression and Cx43 gap junction formation; knockdown of Jak2 in NRCMs significantly lessened Ang II-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and normalized GJA1-20k expression and Cx43 gap junction formation. Overexpression of GJA1-20k improved mitochondrial membrane potential and respiration and lowered ROS production in Ang II-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. These results demonstrate the importance of GJA1-20k in regulating gap junction formation and mitochondrial function in Ang II-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, thus providing a novel therapeutic strategy for patients with cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.

Berberine Prolongs Mouse Heart Allograft Survival by Activating T Cell Apoptosis via the Mitochondrial Pathway

Berberine, which is a traditional Chinese medicine can inhibit tumorigenesis by inducing tumor cell apoptosis. However, the immunoregulatory of effects berberine on T cells remains poorly understood. Here, we first examined whether berberine can prolong allograft survival by regulating the recruitment and function of T cells. Using a major histocompatibility complex complete mismatch mouse heterotopic cardiac transplantation model, we found that the administration of moderate doses (5 mg/kg) of berberine significantly prolonged heart allograft survival to 19 days and elicited no obvious berberine-related toxicity. Compared to that with normal saline treatment, berberine treatment decreased alloreactive T cells in recipient splenocytes and lymph node cells. It also inhibited the activation, proliferation, and function of alloreactive T cells. Most importantly, berberine treatment protected myocardial cells by decreasing CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cell infiltration and by inhibiting T cell function in allografts. In vivo and in vitro assays revealed that berberine treatment eliminated alloreactive T lymphocytes via the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway, which was validated by transcriptome sequencing. Taken together, we demonstrated that berberine prolongs allograft survival by inducing apoptosis of alloreactive T cells. Thus, our study provides more evidence supporting the potential use of berberine in translational medicine.

The role of phytochemicals in sepsis: A mechanistic and therapeutic perspective

Sepsis and septic shock are still a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in intensive care units worldwide. Sepsis is an uncontrolled and excessive response of the innate immune system toward the invading infectious microbes, characterized by the hyper-production of pro-inflammatory mediators such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor-necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1). In severe sepsis, the overwhelming production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species may compromise organ function and lead to the induction of abnormal apoptosis in different organs, resulting in multiple organ dysfunction syndrome and death. Hence, compounds that are able to attenuate inflammatory responses may have therapeutic potential for sepsis treatment. Understanding the pathophysiology and underlying molecular mechanisms of sepsis may provide useful insights in the discovery and development of new effective therapeutics. Therefore, numerous studies have invested much effort into elucidating the mechanisms involved with the onset and development of sepsis. The present review mainly focuses on the molecules and signaling pathways involved in the pathogenicity of sepsis. Additionally, several well-known natural bioactive herbal compounds and phytochemicals, which have shown protective and therapeutic effects with regard to sepsis, as well as their mechanisms of action, are presented. This review suggests that these phytochemicals are able to attenuate the overwhelming inflammatory responses developed during sepsis by modulating different signaling pathways. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective activities of phytochemicals make them potent compounds to be included as complementary therapeutic agents in the diets of patients suffering from sepsis in an effort to alleviate sepsis and its life-threatening complications, such as multi-organ failure.

The diagnostic roles of neutrophil in bloodstream infections

Bloodstream infections remain a leading cause of death worldwide, despite advances in critical care and understanding of the pathophysiology and treatment strategies. No specific biomarkers or therapy are available for these conditions. Neutrophils play a critical role in controlling infection and it is suggested that their migration and antimicrobial activity are impaired during sepsis which contribute to the dysregulation of immune responses. Recent studies further demonstrated that interruption or reversal of the impaired migration and antimicrobial function of neutrophils improves the outcome of sepsis in animal models. In this review, we provide an overview of the associated diagnostic biomarkers involved neutrophils in sepsis, and discuss the potential of neutrophils as a target to specifically predict the outcome of sepsis.

Antimicrobial characteristics of Berberine against prosthetic joint infection-related Staphylococcus aureus of different multi-locus sequence types

BACKGROUND

Staphylococcal aureus (S. aureus) has become the leading causative pathogen of Prosthetic Joint Infection (PJI), which is the most devastating complication after arthroplasty surgeries. Due to the biofilm formation ability and emergence of multiple-drugs resistance strains of S. aureus, it has become an urgency to find new anti-staphylococcal agents to establish effective prophylaxis and treatment strategy for PJI. Extracted from a traditional Chinese herb, berberine is proved active in inhibiting S. aureus, while whether it exerts the same effect on PJI-related S. aureus remains unknown. This study aims to investigate the antimicrobial activity of berbrine against clinical derived PJI-related S. aureus and whether its inhibiting efficacy is associated with subtypes of S. aureus.

METHODS

Eighteen PJI-associated S. aureus were collected and their Multi-locus Sequence Types (MLST) and susceptibility to berberine both in planktonic and biofilm form were investigated. Additionally, one S. aureus strain (ST1792) was selected from the group and its transcriptomic profiling in berberine incubation was performed. The statistical analyses were conducted using Student's t-test with SPSS 24.0(SPSS, IBM, USA). The data were expressed as the means ± standard deviation. Values of p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

It was found out that the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration values of PJI-related S. aureus varied in a broad range (from 64 to 512 μg/ml) among different MLST subtypes and the bacteria were able to regain growth after 24 h in berberine of MIC value or higher concentrations. In addition, sub-inhibitory concentrations of berberine surprisingly enhanced biofilm formation in some S. aureus strains.

CONCLUSION

Traditional medicine is utilised by a large number of individuals, which provides abundant resources for modern medical science. In our study, berberine was found bactericidal against PJI related S. aureus, however, its antibacterial property was impacted by the MLST subtypes of the bacteria, both in planktonic and biofilm growth forms.

Effects of berberine on the growth performance, antioxidative capacity and immune response to lipopolysaccharide challenge in broilers

This study evaluated the effects of berberine on growth performance, immunity, haematological parameters, antioxidant capacity, and the expression of immune response-related genes in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged broilers. We assigned 120 one-day-old male broilers (Ross 308) to two treatment groups; each group included two subgroups, each of which included six replicates of five birds per replicate. The experiment used a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with berberine treatment (0 or 60 mg/kg dietary) and challenge status [injection of saline (9 g/L w/v) or LPS (1.5 mg/kg body weight)] as the main factors. On days 14, 16, 18 and 20, broilers were intraperitoneally injected with LPS or physiological saline. Blood and liver samples were collected on day 21. Dietary berberine supplementation significantly alleviated the compromised average daily gain and average daily feed intake (p < 0.05) caused by LPS. The LPS challenge led to increased lymphocyte and white blood cell (WBC) counts, malondialdehyde (serum and liver) content, and immunoglobulin G and M, tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) expression (p < 0.05) and significantly reduced serum total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activity (p < 0.05). Dietary berberine significantly mitigated the LPS-induced decreases in the mRNA expression of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), TNF-α, IL-1β, inducible nitrite synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 (p < 0.05) in the liver. In conclusion, berberine supplementation has a positive effect on LPS challenge, which may be related to the increase in antioxidant enzyme activity and inhibition of both NF-κB signalling and the expression of inflammatory mediators.

A new method for neonatal rat ventricular myocyte purification using superparamagnetic iron oxide particles

BACKGROUND

Neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVMs) have proven to be an ideal research model for cardiac disease. However, the current methods to purify NRVMs have a limitation to obtain high purity. The purpose of this study was to develop a NRVM purification method by using superparamagnetic iron oxide particles (SIOP).

METHODS

NRVMs were purified by using SIOP (SIOP group). The differential attachment with or without bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) treatment served as control and BrdU groups, respectively. The Percoll gradient (Percoll) and magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) methods were performed to compare the purity and viability of NRVMs with SIOP method.

RESULTS

The SIOP group enriched NRVMs up to 93.9 ± 2.0% purity determined by flow cytometry (FCM) and 95.6 ± 1.3% by immunofluorescence count (IF). In contrast, the control group gave purities of 71.9 ± 2.9% (by FCM) and 66.8 ± 8.9% (by IF), and the BrdU group obtained 82.0 ± 1.3% (by FCM) and 83.1 ± 2.4% (by IF). The purity of SIOP-isolated NRVMs was not different from that of Percoll and MACS groups. However, the cardiomyocytes separated by these methods, except SIOP protocol, were mixed with intrinsic cardiac adrenergic cells. NRVMs purified by SIOP shaped the similar three-dimensional morphology, with no difference in cell yield, viability and cytosolic Ca²⁺ homeostasis at 24 h after isolation compared with NRVMs in other groups. Furthermore, SIOP-purified NRVMs retained the responses to phenylephrine and lipopolysaccharide challenge.

CONCLUSION

We first reported an efficient and novel method to purify NRVMs using SIOP, which may help accelerate innovative research in the field of cardiomyocyte biology.

Ziziphus spina-christi leaf extract pretreatment inhibits liver and spleen injury in a mouse model of sepsis via anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects

Sepsis is a systemic response to infection that can result in acute hepatic and splenic damage. Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) is a wild tree used as a medicinal plant by ancient Egyptians. However, little is known about the mechanism underlying its effects on sepsis. The current study investigated the protective effects of a Z. spina-christi leaf extract (ZSCLE) on liver and spleen damage in a male C57BL/6 mouse model of sepsis, induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Prior to CLP, ZSCLE was administered daily for five consecutive days via oral gavage at doses of 100, 200, or 300 mg/kg. The mice were euthanized 9 h after CLP, and oxidative stress markers were measured (myeloperoxidase, lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide, and reduced glutathione). In addition, we investigated histological changes, anti-oxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase), cytokine levels, protein expression of nuclear factor-κB and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and mRNA levels of mitogen-activated protein kinase (8, 9, and 14), iNOS, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-1β. Our results indicated that ZSCLE significantly and dose-dependently inhibited sepsis-induced liver and spleen injury. These results suggest that ZSCLE could provide a therapeutic agent for sepsis by inducing anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects.

Intratracheal instillation of alveolar type II cells enhances recovery from acute lung injury in rats

BACKGROUND

Acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are characterized by excess production of inflammatory factors. Alveolar type II (ATII) cells help repair damaged lung tissue, rapidly proliferating and differentiating into alveolar type I cells after epithelial cell injury. In ALI, the lack of viable ATII favors progression to more severe lung injury. ATII cells regulate the immune response by synthesizing surfactant and other anti-inflammatory proteins and lipids. Cross-talk between ATII and other cells such as macrophages may also be part of the ATII function. The aim of this study was to test the anti-inflammatory and reparative effects of ATII cells in an experimental model of ALI.

METHODS

In this study ATII cells (2.5 × 10⁶ cells/animal) were intratracheally instilled in rats with HCl and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI and in healthy animals to check for side effects. The specific effect of ATII cells was compared with fibroblast transplantation.

RESULTS

ATII cell transplantation promoted recovery of lung function, decrease mortality and lung inflammation of the animals with ALI. The primary mechanisms for benefit were paracrine effects of prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) and surfactant protein A (SPA) released from ATII cells that modulate alveolar macrophages to an anti-inflammatory phenotype. To our knowledge, these data are the first to provide evidence that ATII cells secrete PGE₂ and SPA, reducing pro-inflammatory macrophage activation and ALI.

CONCLUSION

ATII cells and their secreted molecules have shown an ability to resolve ALI, thereby highlighting a potential novel therapeutic target.

Oral Supplementation of Glutamine Attenuates the Progression of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis in C57BL/6J Mice

Background: Universally accepted therapeutic strategies for the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are still lacking. Studies suggest a preventive effect of oral Gln supplementation on the development of NASH; however, whether Gln also has therapeutic potential for pre-existing NASH has not yet been clarified.Objective: The aim of the present study was to determine whether Gln prevents the progression of diet-induced NASH in mice.Methods: For 8 wk, female C57BL/6J mice (6-8 wk old) were pair-fed a liquid Western-style diet [WSD, 25% of energy from fat, 50% wt:wt fructose, 0.16% wt:wt cholesterol] or control diet (C diet) to induce liver damage. From week 8 to 13, they were pair-fed the C diet or WSD alone or supplemented with l-Gln to provide 2.1 g/kg body weight (C diet + Gln or WSD + Gln). Energy intake was adjusted to the group with the lowest energy intake. Indexes of liver damage and inflammation, intestinal barrier function, and toll-like receptor 4 (Tlr4) signaling in the liver were determined.Results: The liver histology scores significantly increased from 8 to 13 wk (+31%) in WSD-fed mice and were significantly higher than in controls (P ≤ 0.05 for both time comparisons), whereas scores did not differ between C diet-fed and WSD + Gln-fed mice after 13 wk of feeding. The occludin protein concentrations in the small intestinal tissue were similarly reduced in both WSD-fed groups when compared with controls [WSD compared with C diet (-53%) and C diet + Gln (-42%), P ≤ 0.05; WSD + Gln compared with C diet + Gln (-34%), P ≤ 0.05] after 13 wk, whereas the expression of myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 mRNA and concentration of inducible nitric oxide synthase and 4-hydroxynonenal protein adducts were significantly higher only in livers of WSD-fed mice (P ≤ 0.05 for the WSD group compared with all other groups; WSD + Gln group compared with the C diet groups: NS).Conclusion: Taken together, our data suggest that oral Gln supplementation protects mice from the progression of pre-existing, WSD-induced NASH.