Gadolinium chloride modulates bradykinin-induced pulmonary vasoconstriction and hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction during polymicrobial abdominal sepsis in rats

Emerging Mechanisms of Pulmonary Vasoconstriction in SARS-CoV-2-Induced Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) and Potential Therapeutic Targets

The 1918 influenza killed approximately 50 million people in a few short years, and now, the world is facing another pandemic. In December 2019, a novel coronavirus named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused an international outbreak of a respiratory illness termed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and rapidly spread to cause the worst pandemic since 1918. Recent clinical reports highlight an atypical presentation of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in COVID-19 patients characterized by severe hypoxemia, an imbalance of the renin-angiotensin system, an increase in thrombogenic processes, and a cytokine release storm. These processes not only exacerbate lung injury but can also promote pulmonary vascular remodeling and vasoconstriction, which are hallmarks of pulmonary hypertension (PH). PH is a complication of ARDS that has received little attention; thus, we hypothesize that PH in COVID-19-induced ARDS represents an important target for disease amelioration. The mechanisms that can promote PH following SARS-CoV-2 infection are described. In this review article, we outline emerging mechanisms of pulmonary vascular dysfunction and outline potential treatment options that have been clinically tested.

Protective role of tenuigenin on sepsis-induced acute kidney injury in mice

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a severe complication of sepsis, which largely contributes to the associated high mortality rate. Tenuigenin (TNG) is a natural product isolated from Polygala tenuifolia root, which possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. The present study investigated the effects of TNG on sepsis-associated AKI in mice subjected to cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). TNG was demonstrated to alleviate sepsis-induced AKI by reducing pathological changes and significantly decreasing the levels of blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine and kidney coefficient. The production of inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin-6, was markedly inhibited by TNG. Hematoxylin-eosin staining revealed that the morphological changes of kidney tissues in CLP mice were reversed following TNG treatment. Furthermore, treatment with TNG inhibited the production of nitric oxide and prostaglandin E₂. Finally, TNG inhibited the activation of the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway. The present study suggested that TNG alleviates sepsis-induced AKI by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway, which provides a novel approach for treating sepsis-induced AKI.