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Li G, Zhou H, He Y, Sun S, Wu X, Yuan H. Ulinastatin Inhibits the Formation and Progression of Experimental Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms. J Vasc Res 2020; 57:58-64. [PMID: 31962313 DOI: 10.1159/000504848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2018] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS Aortic mural inflammatory damage takes a vital part in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Recently, ulinastatin (UTI) has attracted attention for its anti-inflammatory function. Our study aimed to evaluate potential influences of UTI on experimental AAA. METHODS A mouse model of AAA was induced by infusion of porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE) into the abdominal aorta. Mice were treated with UTI (50,000 U/kg/day i.p.) beginning either immediately or on the 4th day after PPE infusion, with treatment being continued until the 14th day. UTI effects were assessed by aortic diameter measurements and aortic histopathological analysis. RESULTS Significant and time-dependent aortic diameter enlargement persisted in the control mice from day 0. In the UTI group, aortic diameter increased, and depletion of aortic mural smooth muscle cells and elastin was significantly -attenuated. Simultaneously, mural CD68+ macrophages, CD8+ T-cell and B220+ B-cell density, as well as neoangiogenesis were suppressed by UTI. In addition, delayed UTI treatment could still effectively limit aneurysm expansion. CONCLUSIONS UTI treatment limits the formation and growth of experimental AAA, and UTI may be a potential treatment for early AAA disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Li
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Hua Zhou
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Yuxiang He
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Shunji Sun
- Vascular Intervention Department, Hospital Affiliated to Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Xuejun Wu
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Hai Yuan
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, China,
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Ju M, He H, Chen S, Liu Y, Liu Y, Pan S, Zheng Y, Xuan L, Zhu D, Luo Z. Ulinastatin ameliorates LPS‑induced pulmonary inflammation and injury by blocking the MAPK/NF‑κB signaling pathways in rats. Mol Med Rep 2019; 20:3347-3354. [PMID: 31432172 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2019.10561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2018] [Accepted: 04/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Ulinastatin, a urinary trypsin inhibitor (UTI) is commonly used to treat patients with acute inflammatory disease. However, the underlying mechanisms of its anti‑inflammatory effect in acute lung injury (ALI) are not fully understood. The present study aimed to investigate the protective effect of UTI and explore its potential mechanisms by using a rat model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‑induced ALI. Rats were treated with 5 mg/kg LPS by intratracheal instillation. The histological changes in LPS‑induced ALI was evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin staining and the myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity was determined using ELISA. The wet/dry ratio (W/D ratio) of the lungs was used to assess the severity of pulmonary edema and Evans blue dye was used to evaluate the severity of lung vascular leakage. The results demonstrated that LPS administration induced histological changes and significantly increased the lung W/D ratio, MPO activity and Evans blue dye extravasation compared with the control group. However, treatment with UTI attenuated LPS‑induced ALI in rats by modifying histological changes and reducing the lung W/D ratio, MPO activity and Evans blue dye extravasation. In addition, LPS induced the secretion of numerous pro‑inflammatory cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), including tumor necrosis factor‑α, interleukin (IL)‑6, IL‑1β and interferon‑γ; however, these cytokines were strongly reduced following treatment with UTI. In addition, UTI was able to reduce cellular counts in BALF, including neutrophils and leukocytes. Western blotting demonstrated that UTI significantly blocked the LPS‑stimulated MAPK and NF‑κB signaling pathways. The results of the present study indicated that UTI could exert an anti‑inflammatory effect on LPS‑induced ALI by inhibiting the MAPK and NF‑κB signaling pathways, which suggested that UTI may be considered as an effective drug in the treatment of ALI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minjie Ju
- Department of Critical Care, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China
| | - Hongyu He
- Department of Critical Care, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China
| | - Song Chen
- Department of Critical Care, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China
| | - Yimei Liu
- Department of Critical Care, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China
| | - Yujing Liu
- Department of Nursing, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China
| | - Simeng Pan
- Department of Critical Care, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China
| | - Yijun Zheng
- Department of Critical Care, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China
| | - Lizhen Xuan
- Department of Critical Care, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China
| | - Duming Zhu
- Department of Critical Care, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China
| | - Zhe Luo
- Department of Critical Care, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China
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Lagoo JY, D'Souza MC, Kartha A, Kutappa AM. Role of Ulinastatin, a trypsin inhibitor, in severe acute pancreatitis in critical care setting: A retrospective analysis. J Crit Care 2018; 45:27-32. [PMID: 29413719 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrc.2018.01.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2017] [Revised: 01/04/2018] [Accepted: 01/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate the clinical utility of Ulinastatin, a multifunctional serine protease inhibitor, in the management of severe acute pancreatitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS We conducted a retrospective analysis of the archived data of adult patients diagnosed with acute pancreatitis and admitted to surgical intensive care unit with one or more end organ dysfunction. The patients were divided into two groups depending on whether they did or did not receive ulinastatin. Outcome variables namely in-hospital mortality, development of new-onset organ dysfunction, resolution of existing organ dysfunction by Day 5 and length of hospital stay were compared. RESULTS Forty-eight patients, 25 who received Ulinastatin (Ulinastatin group) and 23 who did not (Control group) were analyzed. The in-hospital mortality was significantly lower in the Ulinastatin group (16% vs 69.6%; p = 0.0003). Significantly smaller proportion of patients (24% vs 73.9%; p = 0.0005) developed new-onset organ dysfunction in the ulinastatin group by day 5. Resolution of existing organ dysfunctions by day 5 was more frequent in the ulinastatin group. Duration of hospital stay was similar in the two groups. CONCLUSION Ulinastatin treatment was associated with improved outcomes in patients with severe acute pancreatitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jui Yeshavant Lagoo
- Department of Anaesthesia and Critical Care, St. John's Medical College Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560034, India
| | - Moses Charles D'Souza
- Department of Anaesthesia and Critical Care, St. John's Medical College Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560034, India.
| | - Anandajith Kartha
- Department of Anaesthesia, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Kochi, Kerala 682016, India
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Pan Y, Fang H, Lu F, Pan M, Chen F, Xiong P, Yao Y, Huang H. Ulinastatin ameliorates tissue damage of severe acute pancreatitis through modulating regulatory T cells. J Inflamm (Lond) 2017; 14:7. [PMID: 28344516 PMCID: PMC5360080 DOI: 10.1186/s12950-017-0154-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2016] [Accepted: 03/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ulinastatin or urinary trypsin inhibitor (UTI) has been shown to ameliorate the inflammatory response induced by experimental severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) and hence reduce the mortality, however the mechanism of its action remains incompletely understood. We have investigated the effect of ulinastatin on regulatory T-cells (Tregs) in an established rat model of SAP. METHODS We established a rat SAP model by injecting 5% Na-taurocholate into the pancreatic duct and treated the SAP rats with ulinastatin with different dose level (5000, 10000, 30000 U/kg) through intraperitoneal injection at 0, 6 and 12 h. RESULTS We showed that the tissue damage of pancreas and the mortality of the SAP rats were significantly reduced by ulinastatin. We also showed that in the SAP rats the frequencies of CD4+ T cells and Tregs, as well as the expressions of TGF-β1, CTLA-4, and Foxp3 were decreased in the SAP animals while IL-1β, IL-10 and TNF-α were significantly increased. Treatment with ulinastatin up-regulated the proportion of Tregs in CD4+ T cells and the expression of IL-10, Foxp3 and CTLA-4 in the SAP rats in a dose dependence fashion, while down-regulating the levels of L-1β and TNF-α, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that ulinastatin alleviates inflammatory response and tissue damage in SAP rats by increasing the proportion of Tregs. Our study provides a new mechanism for the beneficial effect of ulinastatin in SAP rat model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Pan
- General Surgery Department, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, No.29 Xinquan Road, Fuzhou, 350001 People’s Republic of China
| | - Haizong Fang
- General Surgery Department, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, No.29 Xinquan Road, Fuzhou, 350001 People’s Republic of China
| | - Fengchun Lu
- General Surgery Department, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, No.29 Xinquan Road, Fuzhou, 350001 People’s Republic of China
| | - Minggui Pan
- Department of Oncology and Hematology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, 710 Lawrence Expressway, Santa Clara, CA 95051 USA
| | - Fei Chen
- General Surgery Department, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, No.29 Xinquan Road, Fuzhou, 350001 People’s Republic of China
| | | | - Yi Yao
- General Surgery Department, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, No.29 Xinquan Road, Fuzhou, 350001 People’s Republic of China
| | - Heguang Huang
- General Surgery Department, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, No.29 Xinquan Road, Fuzhou, 350001 People’s Republic of China
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Luo Y, Che W, Zhao M. Ulinastatin post-treatment attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in rats and human alveolar epithelial cells. Int J Mol Med 2016; 39:297-306. [PMID: 27959396 PMCID: PMC5358699 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2016.2828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2015] [Accepted: 11/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Ulinastatin (UTI), a serine protease inhibitor, possesses anti-inflammatory properties and has been suggested to modulate lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI). High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), a nuclear DNA-binding protein, plays a key role in the development of ALI. The aim of this study was to investigate whether UTI attenuates ALI through the inhibition of HMGB1 expression and to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. ALI was induced in male rats by the intratracheal instillation of LPS (5 mg/kg). UTI was administered intraperitoneally 30 min following exposure to LPS. A549 alveolar epithelial cells were incubated with LPS in the presence or absence of UTI. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the levels of inflammatory cytokines. Western blot analysis was performed to detect the changes in the expression levels of Toll-like receptor 2/4 (TLR2/4) and the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). The results revealed that UTI significantly protected the animals from LPS-induced ALI, as evidenced by the decrease in the lung wet to dry weight ratio, total cells, neutrophils, macrophages and myeloperoxidase activity, associated with reduced lung histological damage. We also found that UTI post-treatment markedly inhibited the release of HMGB1 and other pro-inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, UTI significantly inhibited the LPS-induced increase in TLR2/4 protein expression and NF-κB activation in lung tissues. In vitro, UTI markedly inhibited the expression of TLR2/4 and the activation of NF-κB in LPS-stimulated A549 alveolar epithelial cells. The findings of our study indicate that UTI attenuates LPS-induced ALI through the inhibition of HMGB1 expression in rats. These benefits are associated with the inhibition of the activation of the TLR2/4-NF-κB pathway by UTI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunpeng Luo
- Department of Intensive Care Unit, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, P.R. China
| | - Wen Che
- Department of Intensive Care Unit, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, P.R. China
| | - Mingyan Zhao
- Department of Intensive Care Unit, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, P.R. China
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Zhang C, Wang Y, Fu W, Zhang W, Wang T, Qin H. A Meta-analysis on the Effect of Ulinastatin on Serum Levels of C-Reactive Protein, Interleukin 6, and Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha in Asian Patients with Acute Pancreatitis. Genet Test Mol Biomarkers 2016; 20:118-24. [PMID: 26780230 DOI: 10.1089/gtmb.2015.0192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We aimed to investigate the influence of ulinastatin (UTI) on the serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in Asian patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) by performance of a meta-analysis. METHODS Two investigators independently searched 11 databases, including PUBMED, EBSCO, Ovid, SpringerLink, Wiley, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Wanfang database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Journal Full-text Database, and China Biomedicine Database. The full-text articles were screened and the data were extracted using a standardized data extraction form. All statistical analyses were conducted with Stata software, version 12.0 (Stata Corporation, College Station, TX). RESULTS A total of 94 studies were initially retrieved, and 10 studies containing 424 Asian patients with AP were ultimately enrolled in this meta-analysis. The results revealed that the serum levels of CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α in Asian AP patients significantly decreased after UTI therapy (CRP: standardized mean difference [SMD] = 3.26, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.69-4.83, p < 0.001; IL-6: SMD = 5.92, 95% CI = 2.09-9.75, p = 0.002; TNF-α: SMD = 4.07, 95% CI = 0.79-7.35, p = 0.015). CONCLUSION The results of this meta-analysis suggest that UTI can effectively depress the serum levels of CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α in Asian patients with AP, and thereby inhibit inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunze Zhang
- 1 Department of Colorectal Surgery, Tianjin Union Medicine Centre , Tianjin, P.R. China
| | - Yijia Wang
- 2 Department of Pathology, Tianjin Union Medicine Centre , Tianjin, P.R. China
| | - Wenzheng Fu
- 1 Department of Colorectal Surgery, Tianjin Union Medicine Centre , Tianjin, P.R. China
| | - Weihua Zhang
- 1 Department of Colorectal Surgery, Tianjin Union Medicine Centre , Tianjin, P.R. China
| | - Tao Wang
- 1 Department of Colorectal Surgery, Tianjin Union Medicine Centre , Tianjin, P.R. China
| | - Hai Qin
- 1 Department of Colorectal Surgery, Tianjin Union Medicine Centre , Tianjin, P.R. China
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Zi XJ, Yao H, Fu X, Qiu YD, Jia WJ. Preoperative ulinastatin promotes liver function via adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase signaling pathway in mice after partial hepatectomy. Shijie Huaren Xiaohua Zazhi 2015; 23:2363-2372. [DOI: 10.11569/wcjd.v23.i15.2363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM: To investigate the effect of preoperative ulinastatin on liver function and adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway in mice after 70% hepatectomy.
METHODS: A total of 48 male ICR mice weighing 25-30 g were randomly divided into a control group and an ulinastatin group. Blood and liver tissue samples were collected on days 1, 3, 5 and 7 after 70% hepatectomy. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), total bilirubin (TB) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels were measured, while liver tissues were used for morphology study and AMPK signaling analysis.
RESULTS: Serum AST levels on days 1 and 3 and serum LDH levels on day 3 after hepatectomy were significantly lower in the ulinastatin group than in the control group (P < 0.05). Subsequent mechanism analysis revealed that AMPK signaling pathway was activated significantly later and bile salt export protein (BSEP) was expressed significantly higher in the ulinastatin group than in the control group.
CONCLUSION: Ulinastatin can reduce liver injury by promoting the recovery of liver function after liver resection, via mechanisms associated with AMPK signaling.
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Cho YS, Shin MS, Ko IG, Kim SE, Kim CJ, Sung YH, Yoon HS, Lee BJ. Ulinastatin inhibits cerebral ischemia-induced apoptosis in the hippocampus of gerbils. Mol Med Rep 2015; 12:1796-802. [PMID: 25891426 PMCID: PMC4464423 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2015.3612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2013] [Accepted: 02/03/2015] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Ulinastatin is a urinary trypsin inhibitor, originally extracted and purified from human urine. Ulinastatin has cytoprotective effects against ischemic injury in several organs. In the present study, the neuroprotective effects of ulinastatin following ischemic cerebral injury in the hippocampus of gerbils was investigated. To induce transient global ischemia in gerbils, the common carotid arteries were occluded using aneurysm clips for 5 min, and the clips were then removed. Ulinastatin was subcutaneously injected into the gerbils once a day for 7 days at doses of 50,000 or 100,000 U/kg. The gerbils were confronted with a step-down avoidance task, following which tissue samples from the gerbils were examined using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining, western blot analysis for B-cell lymphoma (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), immunohistochemistry for caspase-3 and immunofluorescence for 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine. The numbers of TUNEL-positive and caspase-3-positive cells in the hippocampal CA1 region increased following cerebral ischemia. The expression of Bax in the hippocampus increased, while the expression of Bcl-2 in the hippocampus decreased following cerebral ischemia. These results confirmed that apoptosis in the hippocampus was enhanced following cerebral ischemia in gerbils. The levels of cell proliferation in the hippocampal dentate gyrus were also enhanced by ischemia, which is possibly an adaptive mechanism to compensate for excessive levels of apoptosis. Ulinastatin treatment inhibited ischemia-induced apoptosis by suppressing apoptosis-associated molecules, and thus ameliorated ischemia-induced short-term memory impairment. The cell proliferation in the hippocampus was also suppressed following ulinastatin treatment. These results suggested the use of ulinastatin as a therapeutic agent for patients with cerebral stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young-Sam Cho
- Department of Urology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 110‑746, Republic of Korea
| | - Mal-Soon Shin
- Department of Physiology, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul 130‑701, Republic of Korea
| | - Il-Gyu Ko
- Department of Physiology, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul 130‑701, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Eun Kim
- Department of Physiology, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul 130‑701, Republic of Korea
| | - Chang-Ju Kim
- Department of Physiology, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul 130‑701, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun-Hee Sung
- Department of Physical Therapy, Kyungnam University, Changwon 631‑701, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye-Sun Yoon
- Department of Pediatrics, Eulji General Hospital, Eulji University School of Medicine, Seoul 139‑872, Republic of Korea
| | - Bong-Jae Lee
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Kang Dong Kyung Hee Hospital, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul 134‑727, Republic of Korea
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Sung YH, Shin MS, Ko IG, Kim SE, Kim CJ, Ahn HJ, Yoon HS, Lee BJ. Ulinastatin suppresses lipopolysaccharide-induced prostaglandin E2 synthesis and nitric oxide production through the downregulation of nuclear factor‑κB in BV2 mouse microglial cells. Int J Mol Med 2013; 31:1030-6. [PMID: 23546639 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2013.1322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2013] [Accepted: 03/15/2013] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Ulinastatin is an intrinsic serine-protease urinary trypsin inhibitor that can be extracted and purified from human urine. Urinary trypsin inhibitors are widely used to treat patients with acute inflammatory disorders, such as shock and pancreatitis. However, although the anti-inflammatory activities of urinary trypsin inhibitors have been investigated, the mechanisms underlying their actions are not yet fully understood. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of ulinastatin on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in relation with nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation using BV2 mouse microglial cells. To accomplish this, we performed a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), western blot analysis, electrophoretic mobility gel shift assay (EMSA), prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) immunoassay and nitric oxide (NO) detection. The results demonstrated that ulinastatin suppressed PGE2 synthesis and NO production by inhibiting the LPS-induced mRNA and protein expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) in BV2 mouse microglial cells. Ulinastatin suppressed the activation of NF-κB in the nucleus. These findings demonstrate that ulinastatin exerts analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects that possibly occur via the suppression of COX-2 and iNOS expression through the downregulation of NF-κB activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun-Hee Sung
- Department of Physical Therapy, Kyungnam University, Changwon 631-701, Republic of Korea
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