Artesunate Ameliorates Sepsis-Induced Acute Lung Injury by Activating the mTOR/AKT/PI3K Axis.

Artesunate Ameliorates Sepsis-Induced Acute Lung Injury by Activating the mTOR/AKT/PI3K Axis.
Gene. 2020 Jul 23;:144969
Authors: Zhang E, Wang J, Chen Q, Wang Z, Li D, Jiang N, Ju X
Abstract
Sepsis-induced acute lung injury (ALI) remains one of the most common disorders in hospitals. The aim of this research was to explore the underlying characteristics and mechanisms of artesunate (AS) in protecting rat lungs from sepsis. The sepsis-induced ALI model was generated in SD rats by the intratracheal administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 5 mg/kg) for 24 h. The rats were randomly assigned into 4 groups: Sham, LPS, LPS + AS, and LPS + AS +LY294002. Pathological evaluation of the lungs was conducted by HE staining, immunofluorescence, and TUNEL assay, and the MPO activity and the W/D ratio of each group were evaluated. The levels of inflammatory mediators (TNF-α and IL-6) were measured by immunoblotting, immunofluorescence and real-time PCR. Western blotting was used to determine the protein levels of PI3K, cleaved Caspase-3, p-mTOR, mTOR, p-Akt, and Akt in the lungs. The MPO activity, W/D ratio and lung injury score were obviously elevated after induction of ALI by LPS. Nevertheless, these alterations could be inhibited by AS. In addition, sepsis decreased the levels of p-mTOR, p-Akt, and PI3K and elevated the expression of cl-caspase-3, TNF-α, and IL-6 in the lungs. After AS administration, these alterations were obviously decrea...

Source: Gene - July 22, 2020 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Zhang E, Wang J, Chen Q, Wang Z, Li D, Jiang N, Ju X Tags: Gene Source Type: research