Effect of salvia miltiorrhizae on apoptosis and NF-kappaB p65 expression in the liver of rats with severe acute pancreatitis or obstructive jaundice

Melatonin Attenuates Acute Pancreatitis-Induced Liver Damage Through Akt-Dependent PPAR-γ Pathway

BACKGROUND

Despite melatonin treatment diminishes inflammatory mediator production and improves organ injury after acute pancreatitis (AP), the mechanisms remain unknown. This study explores whether melatonin improves liver damage after AP through protein kinase B (Akt)-dependent peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR)-γ pathway.

METHODS

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to cerulein-induced AP. Animals were treated with vehicle, melatonin, and melatonin plus phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt inhibitor wortmannin 1 h following the onset of AP. Various indicators and targeted proteins were checked at 8 h in the sham and AP groups.

RESULTS

At 8 h after AP, serum alanine aminotransferase/aspartate aminotransferase levels, histopathology score of hepatic injury, liver myeloperoxidase activity, and proinflammatory cytokine production were significantly increased and liver tissue adenosine triphosphate concentration was lower compared with shams. AP resulted in a marked decrease in liver Akt phosphorylation and PPAR-γ expression in comparison with the shams (relative density, 0.442 ± 0.037 versus. 1.098 ± 0.069 and 0.390 ± 0.041 versus ± 1.080 0.063, respectively). Melatonin normalized AP-induced reduction in liver tissue Akt activation (1.098 ± 0.054) and PPAR-γ expression (1.145 ± 0.083) as well as attenuated the increase in liver injury markers and proinflammatory mediator levels, which was abolished by coadministration of wortmannin.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, our findings suggest that melatonin improves AP-induced liver damage in rats, at least in part, via Akt-dependent PPAR-γ pathway.

EFFECTS OF SALVIA MILTIORRHIZAE ON THE KIDNEY OF RATS WITH SEVERE ACUTE PANCREATITIS AND OBSTRUTIVE JAUNDICE

Background:

Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) and obstructive jaundice (OJ) are frequent recurring diseases that bring about huge threat to human health. Some reports have demonstrated that Salviae miltiorrhizae can protect multiple organs of SAP and OJ model animals or patients, but their related mechanisms were not clear. In this study, we observed the effects of Salvia miltiorrhizae injection on apoptosis and NF-κB expression in kidney and explored the protective effect and mechanism of Salvia miltiorrhizae on the kidney of SAP or OJ rats. The results obtained will provide a theoretical basis for clinical application of Salvia miltiorrhizae.

Material and Methods:

A total of 288 rats were used for SAP -and OJ-associated experiments. The mortality rates of rats, the contents of serum BUN and CREA, the expression levels of Bax, NF-κB proteins and the apoptosis index were observed, respectively.

Results:

The pathological changes in the kidney of SAP or OJ rats in treated group were mitigated to varying degrees. At 6 and 12 hours after operation in SAP rats or on 21 and 28 days after operation in OJ rats, the contents of serum CREA in treated group were significantly lower than those in model control group; At 3 and 6 hours after operation, the staining intensity of Bax protein of kidney in treated group was significantly lower than that in model control group; on 14 days after operation, the apoptosis index in the kidney of OJ rats in treated group was significantly lower than that in model control group.

Conclusion:

Salvia miltiorrhizae can exert protective effects on the kidney of SAP and OJ rats.

Protective effect of Salvia miltiorrhiza and Carthamus tinctorius extract against lipopolysaccharide-induced liver injury

AIM: To investigate the hepatoprotective effects and mechanisms of an extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza and Carthamus tinctorius in vivo.

METHODS: C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to five groups and intraperitoneally administered 0.9% saline, Salvia miltiorrhiza and Carthamus tinctorius extract [Danhong injection (DHI), 0.75 and 3 g/kg mixed extract] or reduced glutathione for injection (RGI, 300 mg/kg) for 30 min before exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 16 mg/kg). After intraperitoneal LPS stimulation for 90 min or 6 h, the mice were sacrificed by ether anaesthesia, and serum and liver samples were collected. Histological analysis (H&E) and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labelling (TUNEL) staining were performed. Alanine transferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), total bilirubin (TBil), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), malondialdehyde (MDA), tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and caspase-3 levels were measured. Bax, Bcl-2, P-IκBα, IκBα, P-NF-κB p65, and NF-κB p65 protein levels were determined by Western blot. TNF-α, IL-6, caspase-3, Bax and Bcl-2 mRNA expression was measured by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTS: Hematoxylin-eosin staining and TUNEL results suggested that DHI (3 g/kg) treatment alleviated inflammatory and apoptotic (P < 0.01) injury in the liver of mice. DHI treatment dose-dependently blunted the abnormal changes in biochemical parameters such as ALT (72.53 ± 2.83 for 3 g/kg, P < 0.01), AST (76.97 ± 5.00 for 3 g/kg, P < 0.01), TBil (1.17 ± 0.10 for 3 g/kg, P < 0.01), MDA (0.81 ± 0.36 for 3 g/kg, P < 0.01), and GST (358.86 ± 12.09 for 3 g/kg, P < 0.01). Moreover, DHI (3 g/kg) remarkably decreased LPS-induced protein expression of TNF-α (340.55 ± 10.18 for 3 g/kg, P < 0.01), IL-6 (261.34 ± 10.18 for 3 g/kg, P < 0.01), and enzyme activity of caspase-3 (0.93 ± 0.029 for 3 g/kg, P < 0.01). The LPS-induced mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-6 and caspase-3 was also decreased by DHI. Western blot analysis revealed that DHI antagonised LPS-stimulated decrease of Bcl-2 and increase of Bax protein expression. Furthermore, DHI inhibited LPS-induced IκBα and NF-κB p65 phosphorylation.

CONCLUSION: DHI may be a multi-function protectant against acute hepatic injury in mice through its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic activities.

High expression of IL-6, NF-κB and ICAM-1 in the intestinal mucosa is associated with intestinal mucosal injury in patients with obstructive jaundice

AIM: To observe the morphology and ultrastructure changes in the intestinal mucosa in patients with obstructive jaundice, and to investigate the relationship between the expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6), nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and intestinal mucosal injury.

METHODS: TThe morphology and ultrastructure changes in the intestinal mucosa in patients with obstructive jaundice were observed by light microscopy and electron microscopy, respectively. The expression of IL-6, NF-κB and ICAM-1 in the intestinal mucosa was detected using immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS: Light microscopy analysis revealed that, in patients with obstructive jaundice, the intestinal villi were arranged disorderly and became shorter or absent, the intervals of villi were widened, and necrosis of the enterocytes and glands were visible. Electron microscopy analysis showed that, although the junctional complexes appeared intact, the microvilli were loose, the enterocytes became flat, the mitochondria swelled up and even become vacuolated, and the mitochondrial cristae collapsed. In addition, it could be seen that bacteria were attached to the mucosa surface. The expression of IL-6, NF-κB and ICAM-1 in patients with obstructive jaundice was increased significantly compared with controls (IL-6: 0.18 ± 0.02, vs 0.13 ± 0.01, P < 0.05; NF-κB: 0.23 ± 0.01 vs 0.19 ± 0.03, P < 0.05; ICAM-1: 0.17 ± 0.01 vs 0.13 ± 0.02, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Intestinal mucosal injury in patients with obstructive jaundice is associated with high expression of IL-6, NF-κB and ICAM-1.

Influence of Salvia miltiorrhizae on the mesenteric lymph node of rats with severe acute pancreatitis or obstructive jaundice

Objective. To observe the effect of salvia miltiorrhizae injection on inflammatory mediator levels and mesenteric lymph nodes in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) and obstructive jaundice (OJ) rats and explore the protective mechanism of salvia miltiorrhizae on the lymph nodes of these rats. Methods. A total of 288 rats were used in SAP-associated and OJ-associated experiments. The rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group, model control group, and treated group. At various time points after operation, the pathological changes in mesenteric lymph nodes of rats in each group were observed, respectively. Results. The pathological severity scores in lymph nodes of SAP rats in treated group were significantly lower than those in model control group (P < .05) while the pathological changes in lymph nodes of OJ rats in treated group also showed varying degrees of mitigation. Conclusion. Salvia miltiorrhizae can exert protective effects on the lymph nodes of SAP or OJ rats via a mechanism that is associated with reducing the contents of inflammatory mediators in blood.

Effect of salvia miltiorrhizae on pulmonary apoptosis of rats with severe acute pancreatitis or obstructive jaundice

To investigate the effect of apoptosis about Salvia miltiorrhizae injection on the lungs of SAP and OJ rats. Total 288 rats were used for SAP-associated experiments and OJ-associated experiments, respectively. The rats were randomly divided into sham-operated, model control and treated group. According to the difference of time points after operation, the SAP rats in each group were subdivided into 3, 6 and 12 h groups while the OJ rats were divided into 7, 14, 21 and 28 days groups. The pathological changes, expression levels of Bax protein and apoptotic indexes in the lungs of SAP or OJ rats were observed, and the mortality rates of SAP or OJ rats were recorded, respectively. The numbers of dead SAP and OJ rats in treated groups declined. The pathological changes in the lungs of SAP or OJ rats in treated groups were relieved to varying degrees. There was no marked difference in pathological severity scores and the positive staining intensity of Bax protein between treated groups and model control groups (all P > 0.05). Salvia miltiorrhizae has some protective effect on the lungs of rats with SAP or OJ which may be related apoptosis although our results can not find significant difference between treated groups and model control groups.

Protection of Salvia miltiorrhizae to the spleen and thymus of rats with severe acute pancreatitis or obstructive jaundice

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the therapeutic effects and mechanism of Salvia miltiorrhizae in the treatment of SAP and OJ.

METHODS

A total of 288 rats were used for SAP- and OJ-associated experiments. The rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group, model control group and treated group. The mortality rates of rats, contents of endotoxin and PLA(2) in blood, pathological changes of different indexes in spleen and thymus were observed.

RESULTS

The contents of endotoxin and PLA2 in treated group were significantly lower than those in model control group.The pathological severity scores of spleen and thymus of SAP rats as well as that of spleen of OJ rats in treated groups were significantly lower than those in model control groups (P < .05). The staining intensity as well as the product of the staining intensity and positive rate of Bax protein of spleen in model control group were significantly higher than those in treated groups (P < .01) , and the apoptosis index of spleen in treated group was significantly lower than that in model control group (P < .01).

CONCLUSION

Salvia miltiorrhizae exerts protective effects on the spleen and thymus of SAP rats and spleen of OJ rats.

Protective effects of Salvia miltiorrhizae on multiple organs of rats with obstructive jaundice

PURPOSE

we aim to explore the protective effects of Salvia miltiorrhizae injection on multiple organs of obstructive jaundice (OJ) rats through observing the impact of this injection on the pathological alterations in these organs and the contents of endotoxin, PLA(2), and TNF-alpha in the blood.

METHODS

A total of 90 mice were randomly divided into sham-operated group, model-control group, and Salvia miltiorrhizae-treated group (n = 30). According to the duration of postoperative administration, each group was further divided into two subgroups, namely, 21 d subgroup (consecutive administration for 21 d, n = 15) and 28 d subgroup (consecutive administration for 28 d, n = 15). After administration, the pathological alterations in multiple organs were observed and the contents of endotoxin, PLA(2), and TNF-alpha in the blood were determined.

RESULTS

Compared to model control group, the number of dead rats in treated group decreased though there was no statistical difference between the two groups. The pathological alterations in the liver, kidney, and spleen in treated group showed varying degrees of mitigation. At all time points, the contents of plasma endotoxin declined significantly. On day 28, plasma PLA(2) content in treated group was significantly lower than that in model-control group.

CONCLUSION

Salvia miltiorrhizae injection is able to obviously reduce the contents of inflammatory mediators in the blood of OJ rats and exert some protective effects on multiple organs of these rats.

Protective effects of Salvia miltiorrhizae on the hearts of rats with severe acute pancreatits or obstructive jaundice

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of Salvia miltiorrhizae (Danshen) in the treatment of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP)- or obstructive jaundice (OJ)-induced heart injury.

METHODS

A total of 288 rats were used for SAP- (n=108) and OJ-associated (n=180) experiments. The rats were randomly divided into sham-operated, model control, and Salvia miltiorrhizae-treated groups. According to the difference of time points after operation, SAP rats in each group were subdivided into 3, 6 and 12 h subgroups (n=12), whereas OJ rats were subdivided into 7, 14, 21, and 28 d subgroups (n=15). At the corresponding time points after operation, the mortality rates of the rats, the contents of endotoxin and phospholipase A2 (PLA2) in blood, and pathological changes of the hearts were investigated.

RESULTS

The numbers of dead SAP and OJ rats in the treated groups declined as compared with those in the model control group, but not significantly (P>0.05). The contents of endotoxin (at 6 and 12 h in SAP rats and on 7, 14, 21, and 28 d in OJ rats, respectively) and PLA2 (at 6 and 12 h in SAP rats and on 28 d in OJ rats, respectively) in the treated group were significantly lower than those in the model control group (P<0.01 and P<0.001, respectively). Besides, myocardial pathological injuries were mitigated in SAP and OJ rats.

CONCLUSION

In this study, we found that Salvia miltiorrhizae improved myocardial pathological changes, reduced the content of PLA2 in blood, and decreased the mortality rates of SAP and OJ rats, exerting protective effects on the hearts of the rats.