Leonurine: A compound with the potential to prevent acute lung injury

Zhang,Guoying; Wang,Lanfei

doi:10.3892/etm.2022.11285

Leonurine: A compound with the potential to prevent acute lung injury

Authors:
- Guoying Zhang
- Lanfei Wang
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Affiliations: Department of Pain Rehabilitation, Qingdao Special Servicemen Recuperation Center of PLA Navy, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, P.R. China, Intensive Care Unit, Xinchang People's Hospital, Shaoxing, Zhejiang 312500, P.R. China
Published online on: March 29, 2022 https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2022.11285
Article Number: 358
Copyright: © Zhang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Sepsis is an intense immune response to infection that contributes to the pathophysiological process of acute lung injury (ALI). Inflammation and oxidative stress serve an important role in the development of ALI. Leonurine (LEO) is a natural phenolic alkaloid extracted from Leonurus cardiaca, which possesses anti‑inflammatory and antioxidative properties. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to explore the effect of LEO on sepsis‑induced ALI and to investigate its underlying mechanism. MTT and Cell Counting Kit‑8 assays were performed to measure cell viability. The levels of reactive oxygen species, lactate dehydrogenase and malondialdehyde, as well as the activity of superoxidase dismutase, were quantified using commercial assay kits. The expression levels of specific inflammatory cytokines were measured by using ELISA. In addition, western blotting was employed to assess the expression levels of cytokines, including TNF‑α, IL‑6, nuclear factor erythroid 2‑related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase‑1. The findings demonstrated that LEO increased the viability of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‑stimulated BEAS‑2B human lung epithelial cells in a dose‑dependent manner. Additionally, LEO suppressed LPS‑induced oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokine release in BEAS‑2B cells. Treatment with Nrf2 inhibitor reversed the effects of LEO treatment on LPS‑induced oxidative stress and inflammatory response in BEAS‑2B cells. Taken together, the data of the present study indicated that LEO attenuated LPS‑induced ALI through the inhibition of oxidative stress and inflammation regulated by the Nrf2 signaling pathway. Therefore, LEO may be a novel and effective agent for the prevention of sepsis‑induced ALI.

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