Abstract
BACKGROUND
Ginkgolide has a protective effect on gastric ulcer gastric mucosa damage, but the exact mechanism involved is still not clear.
AIM
To investigate the molecular mechanism of ginkgolide for protecting against ethanol-induced gastric ulcer by detecting the expression of proteins related to the nod-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3) pathway.
METHODS
Sixty SD rats were randomly divided into a blank group (group A, rats with no treatment), a model group (group B, rats treated with ethanol), control group (group C, rats treated with ethanol and 20 mg/ mL omeprazole), low-dose ginkgolide group (group D, rats treated with ethanol and 1 mg/mL ginkgolide), medium-dose ginkgolide group (group E, rats treated with ethanol and 2.5 mg/mL ginkgolide), and high-dose ginkgolide group (group F, rats treated with ethanol and 5 mg/mL ginkgolide), with ten rats in each group. Gastric pH, gastrin, pepsin, and ulcer index (UI) of rats in different groups were compared. The contents of NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-18, IL-1β, superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and reduced glutathione (GSH) in serum were determined by ELISA. The expression levels of NLRP3, interleukin (IL)-18, IL-1β, caspase-1, and apoptosis associated blotch-like protein (ASC) in gastric tissues were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR, Western blot (WB), and immunofluorescence assay.
RESULTS
UI, gastrin, total acidity, and total pepsin activity in group B were significantly higher than those in group A (P < 0.01), while UI, total acidity, and total pepsin activity in groups C, E, and F were significantly lower than those in group B (P < 0.01). Serum levels of SOD and GSH in groups C, D, E, and F were significantly higher than those in group B (P < 0.01). Serum MDA and the mRNA and protein expression of NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-18, IL-1β, and ASC in gastric tissue in group B were significantly higher than those in group A (P < 0.01). Serum MDA and the mRNA and protein expression of NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-18, IL-1β, and ASC in gastric tissue of rats in groups C, D, E, and F were significantly lower than those in group B (P < 0.01).
CONCLUSION
Ginkgolide protects against ethanol-induced gastric ulcer through the NLRP3 pathway.
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