scholarly journals Kaempferol protects rats with severe acute pancreatitis through regulating NF-κB and Keap1–Nrf2 signaling pathway

2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 25-32
Author(s):  
Jun Cai ◽  
Suyan Yao ◽  
Hao Wang ◽  
Wei Rong

Kaempferol (KF) is an important natural anti-inflammatory flavonol. Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammatory disorder, which in about 20% cases may develop into severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) with a high mortality rate. This research was to study the effects and mechanism of kaempferol on SAP. SAP was induced by sodium taurocholate. The level of cytokines was analyzed by enzyme-linked-immunosorbent serologic assay. The expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1–nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Keap1–Nrf2) proteins was analyzed by Western blot assay. Pathological changes in the pancreas were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Kaempferol attenuated pancreatic injury in SAP rats, including reduction in inflammatory infiltration and necrosis. The level of serum amylase and lipase was also decreased in kaempferol-treated SAP rats. Kaempferol inhibited the expression of inflammatory mediators (nuclear factor-α, Interlukin-1β, and Interlukin-6), and alleviated the oxidative stress characterized by the decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) and increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels. Kaempferol decreased the expression of cleaved caspase 3 and anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, which indicated that kaempferol could inhibit apoptosis of pancreatic cells in SAP rats. Kaempferol treatment could decrease the expression of p-p65 and the amount of nuclear Nrf2 (Nu-Nrf2), which demonstrated that kaempferol inhibited the NF-κB activation and enhanced the Keap1–Nrf2 pathway. Our research indicated that kaempferol could attenuate the pancreatic injury of SAP by regulating NF-κB and Keap1–Nrf2 signaling pathway. Kaempferol could serve as a natural candidate for treating SAP.

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Yuanyuan Liu ◽  
Boxi Zhang ◽  
Jiahe Liu ◽  
Chunyu Qiao ◽  
Nianyu Xue ◽  
...  

As innate immune effector cells in the central nervous system (CNS), microglia not only are essential for the normal development of nervous system but also act on different neurological diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Huntington's disease (HD), and other neuroinflammatory diseases. Mogroside V (Mog), a natural plant active ingredient and isolated form of Momordica grosvenori, has been shown to possess anti-inflammatory action, but few studies were carried out to investigate the effects of Mog on neuroinflammation. This study aimed to investigate the role of Mog in lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) induced neuroinflammation and neuronal damage, revealing the underlying mechanisms. Our data indicated that Mog significantly inhibited the LPS-induced production of proinflammatory factors, such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-18, IL-6, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) in BV-2 cells. We found that Mog also suppressed toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), adenosine 5′-monophosphate- (AMP-) activated protein kinase (AMPK), nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), and protein kinase B (AKT). Moreover, Mog also enhanced the expression of γ-glutamyl cysteine synthetase catalytic subunit (GCLC), modifier subunit (GCLM), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and quinine oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) proteins, mostly depending on the nuclear translation of nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2). In contrast, pretreatment with inhibitors of AKT can suppress the phosphorylation of AMPK, Nrf2, and its downstream proteins expression. In summary, Mog might play a protective role against LPS-induced neurotoxicity by inhibiting the TLR4-MyD88 and activation of AMPK/AKT-Nrf2 signaling pathway.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Yaqin Chen ◽  
Yu Kong ◽  
Qili Wang ◽  
Jian Chen ◽  
Hua Chen ◽  
...  

Background. Asthma is a complex inflammatory disorder that plagues a large number of people. Schisandrin B is an active ingredient of the traditional Chinese herbal medicine Schisandra with various proven physiological activities such as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. In this study, we explored the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and provided the mechanistic insights into the activity of schisandrin B in a mouse model of ovalbumin- (OVA-) induced allergic asthma. Methods. Male BALB/c mice were sensitized and challenged with OVA to induce asthma and treated with various doses (15 mg/kg, 30 mg/kg, and 60 mg/kg) of SCH to alleviate the features of allergic asthma, airway hyperresponsiveness, inflammatory response, OVA-specific immunoglobulin (Ig)E level, and pathological injury. Results. Schisandrin B significantly attenuated the airway hyperresponsiveness induced by OVA. Moreover, schisandrin B administration suppressed inflammatory responses, reduced the level of IgE, and attenuated pathological injury. Mechanistically, schisandrin B treatment promoted the activation of nuclear erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), but suppressed the stimulation of the NF-κB pathway caused by OVA. Conclusion. Taken together, our study suggests that schisandrin B attenuates the features of asthmatic lungs by inhibiting the NF-κB pathway and activating the Nrf2 signaling pathway.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 1417
Author(s):  
Pelin Telkoparan-Akillilar ◽  
Emiliano Panieri ◽  
Dilek Cevik ◽  
Sibel Suzen ◽  
Luciano Saso

Cancer is one of the most fatal diseases with an increasing incidence and mortality all over the world. Thus, there is an urgent need for novel therapies targeting major cancer-related pathways. Nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) and its major negative modulator Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1) are main players of the cellular defense mechanisms against internal and external cell stressors. However, NRF2/KEAP1 signaling pathway is dysregulated in various cancers, thus promoting tumor cell survival and metastasis. In the present review, we discuss the mechanisms of normal and deregulated NRF2 signaling pathway focusing on its cancer-related functions. We further explore activators and inhibitors of this pathway as cancer targeting drug candidates in order to provide an extensive background on the subject.


2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 299-304 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qi-Ming Xue ◽  
Hui Pan ◽  
Lu Huang ◽  
Ning Li

Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) and manual acupuncture (MA) at ST25 on inflammatory mediators and nuclear factor κ-B (NF-κB) activation in rats with sodium taurocholate-induced severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). Methods Eighty-eight male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: control (sham-operated), SAP, SAP+EA and SAP+MA (n=22 each). A SAP model was established by injecting 3.5% sodium taurocholate 1 mL/kg into the pancreatic duct. In each group, animals were killed at t=3 h (n=7), 6 h (n=7) and 12 h (n=8) after the procedure. Pancreatic expression of NF-κB was examined by immunohistochemical staining. The levels of tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in serum were determined by ELISA. Pathological changes in the pancreas were examined microscopically. Results Serum levels of TNF-α and IL-6 increased and morphological changes consistent with tissue damage were observed in the pancreas of SAP rats. NF-κB p65 expression was significantly higher in the SAP group than in the sham-operated group (p<0.05). Treatment with acupuncture at ST25 attenuated morphological damage and reduced levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in serum. NF-κB p65 expression was also significantly reduced by acupuncture at ST25 in the pancreas at 6 and 12 h after the procedure (p<0.05). There were no significant differences between the SAP+EA and SAP+MA groups. Conclusions Acupuncture at ST25 might have a therapeutic effect on rats with SAP through inhibition of NF-κB expression and a reduction in the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines.


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