Effect of Celecoxib and Infliximab against Multiple Organ Damage Induced by Sepsis in Rats: A Comparative Study

Mitigative effect of sodium alginate on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic neuropathy through regulation of redox status and miR-146a in the rat sciatic nerve

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a significant complication of diabetes with limited effective therapeutic options. Sodium alginate (SA), a natural polysaccharide from brown algae, has demonstrated health benefits, however, whether it can treat streptozotocin (STZ)-induced DPN remains unclear. The present experiment aimed to test the preventive role of SA on STZ-induced DPN in rats and explored the possible mechanisms. The DPN rat model was established in rats by intraperitoneal injection of a single dose of 40 mg/kg b.w. STZ, and SA (200 mg/kg b.w./day) was orally administered for 28 days after type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) induction. The obtained findings revealed that STZ significantly increased serum levels of FBG, HOMA-IR, TC, TG, VLDL-C, and LDL-C, while decreased serum insulin, incretin GLP-1, HDL-C, and lipase activity. In the sciatic nerves, STZ significantly increased proinflammatory cytokine levels (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α), caspase-3 (a pro-apoptotic protein), markers of oxidative stress (MDA and NO), and AGEs. In parallel, STZ induced a significant decline in the activities of enzymatic antioxidants, viz., SOD, CAT, and GPx, and non-enzymatic GSH. These changes were accompanied by a low expression of miR-146a in the sciatic nerves of DPN rats. Except for HOMA-IR, SA treatment to STZ injected rats significantly improved these parameters and helped to rescue the neurological morphology of the sciatic nerve fibers. In conclusion, SA mitigated experimental DPN, and this might be due to its ability to suppress hyperglycemic-hyperlipidemic effects, counteract the overactivation of inflammatory molecules, increase miR-146a expression, modulate oxidative dysregulation, and reduce cell apoptosis.

Pioglitazone ameliorates sepsis-associated encephalopathy through SIRT1 signaling pathway

Sepsis is a severe immune response to an infection. It is associated with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODs) along with systemic and neuronal inflammatory response. This study focused on the acute neurologic dysfunction associated with sepsis by exploring the role of PPARγ/SIRT1 pathway against sepsis. We studied the role of this axis in ameliorating sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) and its linked neurobehavioral disorders by using pioglitazone (PIO). This PPARγ agonist showed neuroprotective actions in neuroinflammatory disorders. Sepsis was induced in mice by LPS (10 mg/kg). Survival rate and MODs were assessed. Furthermore, behavioral deficits, cerebral oxidative, inflammatory, and apoptotic markers, and the cerebral expression level of SIRT1 were determined. In this study, we observed that PIO attenuated sepsis-induced cerebral injury. PIO significantly enhanced survival rate, attenuated MODs, and systemic inflammatory response in septic mice. PIO also promoted cerebral SIRT1 expression and reduced cerebral activation of microglia, oxidative stress, HMGB, iNOS, NLRP3 and caspase-3 along with an obvious improvement in behavioral deficits and cerebral pathological damage induced by LPS. Most of the neuroprotective effects of PIO were abolished by EX-527, a SIRT1 inhibitor. These results highlight that the neuroprotective effect of PIO in SAE is mainly SIRT1-dependent.

Immunotherapy in the context of sepsis-induced immunological dysregulation

Sepsis is a clinical syndrome caused by uncontrollable immune dysregulation triggered by pathogen infection, characterized by high incidence, mortality rates, and disease burden. Current treatments primarily focus on symptomatic relief, lacking specific therapeutic interventions. The core mechanism of sepsis is believed to be an imbalance in the host's immune response, characterized by early excessive inflammation followed by late immune suppression, triggered by pathogen invasion. This suggests that we can develop immunotherapeutic treatment strategies by targeting and modulating the components and immunological functions of the host's innate and adaptive immune systems. Therefore, this paper reviews the mechanisms of immune dysregulation in sepsis and, based on this foundation, discusses the current state of immunotherapy applications in sepsis animal models and clinical trials.

Pregnenolone Inhibits Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiac Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Apoptosis-Role of Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 and NADPH Oxidase 1

The clinical usefulness of doxorubicin (DOX) is limited by its serious adverse effects, such as cardiotoxicity. Pregnenolone demonstrated both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity in animal models. The current study aimed to investigate the cardioprotective potential of pregnenolone against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. After acclimatization, male Wistar rats were randomly grouped into four groups: control (vehicle-treated), pregnenolone (35 mg/kg/d, p.o.), DOX (15 mg/kg, i.p, once), and pregnenolone + DOX. All treatments continued for seven consecutive days except DOX, which was administered once on day 5. The heart and serum samples were harvested one day after the last treatment for further assays. Pregnenolone ameliorated the DOX-induced increase in markers of cardiotoxicity, namely, histopathological changes and elevated serum levels of creatine kinase-MB and lactate dehydrogenase. Moreover, pregnenolone prevented DOX-induced oxidative changes (significantly lowered cardiac malondialdehyde, total nitrite/nitrate, and NADPH oxidase 1, and elevated reduced glutathione), tissue remodeling (significantly decreased matrix metalloproteinase 2), inflammation (significantly decreased tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin 6), and proapoptotic changes (significantly lowered cleaved caspase-3). In conclusion, these findings show the cardioprotective effects of pregnenolone in DOX-treated rats. The cardioprotection achieved by pregnenolone treatment can be attributed to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic actions.

Protective effects of menthol against sepsis-induced hepatic injury: Role of mediators of hepatic inflammation, apoptosis, and regeneration

Liver dysfunction in sepsis is a major complication that amplifies multiple organ failure and increases the risk of death. Inflammation and oxidative stress are the main mediators in the pathophysiology of sepsis. Therefore, we investigated the role of menthol, a natural antioxidant, against sepsis-induced liver injury in female Wistar rats. Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Menthol (100 mg/kg) was given intragastric 2 h after CLP. Blood samples and liver tissues were collected 24 h after surgery. Menthol significantly (p < 0.05) attenuated the sepsis-induced elevation in serum liver enzymes and improved the hepatic histopathological changes. Menthol treatment significantly (p < 0.05) decreased hepatic levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, malondialdehyde, total nitrite, and cleaved caspase-3. It restored the hepatic levels of superoxide dismutase and reduced glutathione. Additionally, menthol significantly (p < 0.05) increased hepatic levels of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2); an anti-apoptotic factor, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), a biomarker of regeneration and survival. Our results showed the therapeutic potential of menthol against liver injury induced by sepsis.