MicroRNA‑93 contributes to the suppression of lung inflammatory responses in LPS‑induced acute lung injury in mice via the TLR4/MyD88/NF‑κB signaling pathway

Essential oil from Cinnamomum cassia Presl bark regulates macrophage polarization and ameliorates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury through TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway

BACKGROUND

Cinnamomum cassia Presl, a traditional Chinese medicine recorded in "Shennong's Herbal Classic," has been historically used to treat respiratory diseases and is employed to address inflammation. The essential oil derived from Cinnamomum cassia bark is a primary anti-inflammatory agent. However, there remains ambiguity regarding the chemical composition of cinnamon bark essential oil (BCEO), its principal anti-inflammatory components, and their potential efficacy in typical inflammatory respiratory conditions, such as acute lung injury (ALI).

PURPOSE

This study aimed to unveil the chemical composition of BCEO. In addition, the mechanism of action of BCEO in ameliorating ALI and regulating macrophage polarization through the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway was elucidated.

METHODS

BCEO was extracted using supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) and characterized through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. Acute oral toxicity was observed in C57BL/6 J mice. The pharmacological effects and underlying mechanisms of BCEO were evaluated in a mouse model of ALI, which was induced by administering 5 mg/kg of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) through intratracheal instillation.

RESULTS

GC-MS analysis revealed 99.08% of the constituents of BCEO. The primary components of BCEO were trans-cinnamaldehyde, o-methoxycinnamaldehyde, (+)-α-muurolene, δ-cadinene, and copaene. Oral acute toxicity tests indicated that the maximum tolerated dose of BCEO was 12 g/kg/day. BCEO treatment significantly reduced lung W/D ratio, total protein concentration in BALF, levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in BALF, WBC count and NEU% in peripheral blood, and lung histological damage. Pulmonary function, IL-10 levels, and LYM% in peripheral blood also showed improvement. BCEO effectively decreased the proportion of M1 phenotype macrophages in BALF, M1/M2 ratio, and apoptotic cells in the lung tissue while increasing the proportion of M2 phenotype macrophages in BALF. Furthermore, BCEO treatment led to reduced protein and mRNA levels of TLR4, MyD88, and p-p65, alongside increased p65 expression, suggesting its potential to impede the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.

CONCLUSION

SFE-extracted BCEO or its major constituents could serve as a viable treatment for ALI by reducing lung inflammation, improving pulmonary function, and protecting against LPS-induced ALI in mice. This therapeutic effect is achieved by inhibiting M1 macrophage polarization, promoting M2 macrophage polarization, and suppressing the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Exploring the role of neuronal-enriched extracellular vesicle miR-93 and interoception in major depressive disorder

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with interoceptive processing dysfunctions, but the molecular mechanisms underlying this dysfunction are poorly understood. This study combined brain neuronal-enriched extracellular vesicle (NEEV) technology and serum markers of inflammation and metabolism with Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to identify the contribution of gene regulatory pathways, in particular micro-RNA (miR) 93, to interoceptive dysfunction in MDD. Individuals with MDD (n = 41) and healthy comparisons (HC; n = 35) provided blood samples and completed an interoceptive attention task during fMRI. EVs were separated from plasma using a precipitation method. NEEVs were enriched by magnetic streptavidin bead immunocapture utilizing a neural adhesion marker (L1CAM/CD171) biotinylated antibody. The origin of NEEVs was validated with two other neuronal markers - neuronal cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) and ATPase Na+/K+ transporting subunit alpha 3 (ATP1A3). NEEV specificities were confirmed by flow cytometry, western blot, particle size analyzer, and transmission electron microscopy. NEEV small RNAs were purified and sequenced. Results showed that: (1) MDD exhibited lower NEEV miR-93 expression than HC; (2) within MDD but not HC, those individuals with the lowest NEEV miR-93 expression had the highest serum concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1 receptor antagonist, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor, and leptin; and (3) within HC but not MDD, those participants with the highest miR-93 expression showed the strongest bilateral dorsal mid-insula activation during interoceptive versus exteroceptive attention. Since miR-93 is regulated by stress and affects epigenetic modulation by chromatin re-organization, these results suggest that healthy individuals but not MDD participants show an adaptive epigenetic regulation of insular function during interoceptive processing. Future investigations will need to delineate how specific internal and external environmental conditions contribute to miR-93 expression in MDD and what molecular mechanisms alter brain responsivity to body-relevant signals.

miRNA-Mediated Fine Regulation of TLR-Induced M1 Polarization

Macrophage polarization to the M1 spectrum is induced by bacterial cell wall components through stimulation of Toll-like family (TLR) receptors. By orchestrating the expression of relevant mediators of the TLR cascade, as well as associated pathways and feedback loops, macrophage polarization is coordinated to ensure an appropriate immune response. This is central to the successful control of pathogens and the maintenance of health. Macrophage polarization is known to be modulated at both the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. In recent years, the miRNA-based post-transcriptional regulation of M1 polarization has received increasing attention from the scientific community. Comparative studies have shown that TLR stimulation alters the miRNA profile of macrophages and that macrophages from the M1 or the M2 spectrum differ in terms of miRNAs expressed. Simultaneously, miRNAs are considered critical post-transcriptional regulators of macrophage polarization. In particular, miRNAs are thought to play a regulatory role in the switch between the early proinflammatory response and the resolution phase. In this review, we will discuss the current state of knowledge on the complex interaction of transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms that ultimately determine the functionality of macrophages.

Preventive Effect of the Total Polyphenols from Nymphaea candida on Sepsis-Induced Acute Lung Injury in Mice via Gut Microbiota and NLRP3, TLR-4/NF-κB Pathway

This study aimed to investigate the preventive effects of the total polyphenols from Nymphaea candida (NCTP) on LPS-induced septic acute lung injury (ALI) in mice and its mechanisms. NCTP could significantly ameliorate LPS-induced lung tissue pathological injury in mice as well as lung wet/dry ratio and MPO activities (p < 0.05). NCTP could significantly decrease the blood leukocyte, neutrophil, monocyte, basophil, and eosinophil amounts and LPS contents in ALI mice compared with the model group (p < 0.05), improving lymphocyte amounts (p < 0.05). Moreover, compared with the model group, NCTP could decrease lung tissue TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β levels (p < 0.05) and downregulate the protein expression of TLR4, MyD88, TRAF6, IKKβ, IκB-α, p-IκB-α, NF-κB p65, p-NF-κB p65, NLRP3, ASC, and Caspase1 in lung tissues (p < 0.05). Furthermore, NCTP could inhibit ileum histopathological injuries, restoring the ileum tight junctions by increasing the expression of ZO-1 and occludin. Simultaneously, NCTP could reverse the gut microbiota disorder, restore the diversity of gut microbiota, increase the relative abundance of Clostridiales and Lachnospiraceae, and enhance the content of SCFAs (acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid) in feces. These results suggested that NCTP has preventive effects on septic ALI, and its mechanism is related to the regulation of gut microbiota, SCFA metabolism, and the TLR-4/NF-κB and NLRP3 pathways.

Macrophage polarization in spinal cord injury repair and the possible role of microRNAs: A review

The prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of spinal cord injury (SCI) have always posed significant medical challenges. After mechanical injury, disturbances in microcirculation, edema formation, and the generation of free radicals lead to additional damage, impeding effective repair processes and potentially exacerbating further dysfunction. In this context, inflammatory responses, especially the activation of macrophages, play a pivotal role. Different phenotypes of macrophages have distinct effects on inflammation. Activation of classical macrophage cells (M1) promotes inflammation, while activation of alternative macrophage cells (M2) inhibits inflammation. The polarization of macrophages is crucial for disease healing. A non-coding RNA, known as microRNA (miRNA), governs the polarization of macrophages, thereby reducing inflammation following SCI and facilitating functional recovery. This study elucidates the inflammatory response to SCI, focusing on the infiltration of immune cells, specifically macrophages. It examines their phenotype and provides an explanation of their polarization mechanisms. Finally, this paper introduces several well-known miRNAs that contribute to macrophage polarization following SCI, including miR-155, miR-130a, and miR-27 for M1 polarization, as well as miR-22, miR-146a, miR-21, miR-124, miR-223, miR-93, miR-132, and miR-34a for M2 polarization. The emphasis is placed on their potential therapeutic role in SCI by modulating macrophage polarization, as well as the present developments and obstacles of miRNA clinical therapy.

Impact of lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in aged mice

Study Aim: As the geriatric population rapidly expands, there has been a concurrent increase in elderly admissions to intensive care units (ICUs). Acute lung injury (ALI) is a prevalent reason for these admissions and carries poorer survival rates for the aged population compared to younger counterparts. The aging lung is subject to physiological, cellular, and immunological changes. However, our understanding of how aging impacts the clinical progression of ALI is limited. This study explored the effect of aging using a murine model of ALI. Methods: Female C57BL/6J mice, aged 7-8 wk (young) and 18 months (aged), were divided into four groups: young controls, aged controls, young with ALI (YL), and aged with ALI (AL). ALI was induced via intratracheal administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 0.5 mg/kg). The animals were euthanized 72 h after LPS exposure. Results: The AL group exhibited a significantly increased wet/dry ratio compared to the other three groups, including the YL group. The bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid in the AL group had more cells overall, including more neutrophils, than the other groups. Inflammatory cytokines in BAL fluid showed similar trends. Histological analyses demonstrated more severe lung injury and fibrosis in the AL group than in the other groups. Increased transcription of senescence-associated secretory phenotype markers, including PAI-1 and MUC5B, was more prominent in the AL group than in the other groups. This trend was also observed in BAL samples from humans with pneumonia. Conclusions: Aging may amplify lung damage and inflammatory responses in ALI. This suggests that physicians should exercise increased caution in the clinical management of aged patients with ALI.

Exploring the role of neuronal-enriched extracellular vesicle miR-93 and interoception in major depressive disorder

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with interoceptive processing dysfunctions, but the molecular mechanisms underlying this dysfunction are poorly understood. This study combined brain Neuronal-Enriched Extracellular Vesicle (NEEV) technology and serum markers of inflammation and metabolism with Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to identify the contribution of gene regulatory pathways, in particular micro-RNA (miR) 93, to interoceptive dysfunction in MDD. Individuals with MDD (n = 44) and healthy comparisons (HC; n = 35) provided blood samples and completed an interoceptive attention task during fMRI. EVs were separated from plasma using a precipitation method. NEEVs were enriched by magnetic streptavidin bead immunocapture utilizing a neural adhesion marker (CD171) biotinylated antibody. NEEV specificities were confirmed by ow cytometry, western blot, particle size analyzer, and transmission electron microscopy. NEEV small RNAs were purified and sequenced. Results showed that: (1) MDD exhibited lower NEEV miR-93 expression than HC; (2) within MDD but not HC, those individuals with the lowest NEEV miR-93 expression had the highest serum concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1 receptor antagonist, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor, and leptin; and (3) within HC but not MDD, those participants with the highest miR-93 expression showed the strongest bilateral dorsal mid-insula activation. Since miR-93 is regulated by stress and affects epigenetic modulation by chromatin reorganization, these results suggest that healthy individuals but not MDD participants show an adaptive epigenetic regulation of insular function during interoceptive processing. Future investigations will need to delineate how specific internal and external environmental conditions contribute to miR-93 expression in MDD and what molecular mechanisms alter brain responsivity to body-relevant signals.

MicroRNA-885-3p alleviates bronchial epithelial cell injury induced by lipopolysaccharide via toll-like receptor 4

Airway inflammation is one of the typical pathological characteristics of asthma. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in regulating inflammation. Nevertheless, miRNA-885-3p (miR-885-3p)’s role in asthmatic inflammation and the underlying mechanism need to be explained. In this work, miR-885-3p expression and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) expression in asthma patients’ plasma and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated 16HBE cells were detected through quantitative real-time PCR. The interleukin-8 (IL-8), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in 16HBE cell supernatant were examined via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and flow cytometry were employed to examine 16HBE cell viability and apoptosis, respectively. Western blotting was performed to examine the expression of TLR4, cleaved caspase-3, B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) p65, Bcl-2-related X protein (Bax), phosphorylated (p)-NF-κB p65 and myeloid differentiation primitive-response protein 88 (MyD88) in 16HBE cells. Furthermore, the targeted relationship between TLR4 and miR-885-3p in 16HBE cells was determined through dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. Compared with healthy volunteers, miR-885-3p expression in acute asthma patients’ plasma was significantly downregulated. In 16HBE cells, the stimulation of LPS reduced miR-885-3p expression. MiR-885-3p overexpression reduced LPS-stimulated 16HBE cell injury by enhancing cell viability, and suppressing the levels of inflammatory factors and apoptosis. Furthermore, TLR4 was identified as miR-885-3p’s target gene. TLR4 overexpression weakened the impacts of miR-885-3p on LPS-stimulated cell injury and NF-κB-MyD88 signaling. In conclusion, miR-885-3p can reduce LPS-induced 16HBE cell damage, via targeting TLR4 to suppress the NF-κB-MyD88 pathway.

Ginsenoside Ro, an oleanolic saponin of Panax ginseng, exerts anti-inflammatory effect by direct inhibiting toll like receptor 4 signaling pathway

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus modulates the inflammatory response and the subsequent lung damage in a murine model of acute lung inflammation

OBJECTIVE

The present study investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of the probiotic Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus (Lr) on lung inflammation induced by Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Escherichia coli in C57BL/6 mice.

METHODS

C57BL/6 mice were divided into four groups: control, LPS, Lr (1 day) + LPS, and Lr (14 days) + LPS. Total and differential cells from Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid (BALF) were counted in a Neubauer 40X chamber, and pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, CXCL-1, TNF-α, TGF-β, and IL-10) were measured by ELISA assay. The analysis of whole leukocytes in blood was performed using the automated system Sysmex 800i. Morphometry of pulmonary tissue evaluated alveolar hemorrhage, alveolar collapse, and inflammatory cells. Pulmonary vascular permeability was assessed by Evans blue dye extravasation, and bronchoconstriction was evaluated in a tissue bath station. The transcription factor NF-kB was evaluated by ELISA, and its gene expression and TLR-2, TLR-4, MMP-9, MMP-12, and TIMP by PCR.

RESULTS

The probiotic Lr had a protective effect against the inflammatory responses induced by LPS. Lr significantly reduced pro-inflammatory cells in the airways, lung parenchyma, and blood leukocytes. Furthermore, Lr reduced the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in BALF and the expression of TLRs, MMPs, and NF-kB in lung tissue and maintained the expression of TIMP in treated animals promoting a protective effect on lung tissue.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the study indicate that pre-treatment with the probiotic Lr may be a promising way to mitigate lung inflammation in endotoxemia.

The ameliorative effect of melatonin on LPS-induced Sertoli cells inflammatory and tight junctions damage via suppression of the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway in newborn calf

The blood-testicular barrier (BTB) is involved in spermatogenesis, protects sperm development, and plays a crucial role in the reproductive process. Tight junctions (TJs) between Sertoli cells (SCs) are the key structure of (BTB), and if its structure is damaged, BTB function is affected. The cellular inflammation caused by Gram-negative bacteria affects the structural integrity of TJs. Melatonin (MT) has anti-inflammatory effects; however, the effect of MT in newborn calf SCs is unknown. Therefore, this experiment studied the protective effect of MT. The results showed that LPS upregulated TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB expressions, in turn, activated the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway, produced a large amount of IL-6 and IL-1β, downregulated the expression of ZO-1 and Occludin, and reduced the viability of SCs, which resulted in the inflammatory response of SCs and damage of TJs. The addition of MT decreased TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB expressions, it then inhibited the activation of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway, downregulated the expression of IL-6 and IL-1β, upregulated the expression of ZO-1 and Occludin, and increased the cell viability, thereby alleviating the inflammatory response of SCs, and restored the TJs structure. Overall, our results reveal that MT can alleviate LPS-induced in newborn calf SCs Inflammation and TJs injury through TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.

In vitro induction of interleukin-8 by SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein is inhibited in bronchial epithelial IB3-1 cells by a miR-93-5p agomiR

One of the major clinical features of COVID-19 is a hyperinflammatory state, which is characterized by high expression of cytokines (such as IL-6 and TNF-α), chemokines (such as IL-8) and growth factors and is associated with severe forms of COVID-19. For this reason, the control of the “cytokine storm” represents a key issue in the management of COVID-19 patients. In this study we report evidence that the release of key proteins of the COVID-19 “cytokine storm” can be inhibited by mimicking the biological activity of microRNAs. The major focus of this report is on IL-8, whose expression can be modified by the employment of a molecule mimicking miR-93-5p, which is able to target the IL-8 RNA transcript and modulate its activity. The results obtained demonstrate that the production of IL-8 protein is enhanced in bronchial epithelial IB3-1 cells by treatment with the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein and that IL-8 synthesis and extracellular release can be strongly reduced using an agomiR molecule mimicking miR-93-5p.

Long non-coding RNA NEAT1 promotes lipopolysaccharide-induced injury in human tubule epithelial cells by regulating miR-93-5p/TXNIP axis

Many long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been found to play crucial roles in sepsis-induced acute kidney injury (AKI), including lncRNA nuclear-enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1). We aimed to further elucidate the functions and molecular mechanism of NEAT1 in sepsis-induced AKI. Sepsis-induced AKI cell model was established by treatment with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in human tubule epithelial (HK2) cells. Cell viability and apoptosis were determined by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Western blot assay was performed to measure all protein levels. The concentrations of inflammatory factors were evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression levels of inflammatory factors, NEAT1, microRNA-93-5p (miR-93-5p), and thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The oxidative stress factors were detected using corresponding kits. The interaction between miR-93-5p and NEAT1 or TXNIP was predicted by bioinformatics analysis and verified by dual-luciferase reporter and RNA Immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays. NEAT1 was upregulated in serum of sepsis patients and LPS-induced HK2 cells. NEAT1 silence alleviated LPS-induced HK2 cell injury by inhibiting apoptosis, inflammation and oxidative stress. Moreover, miR-93-5p was a direct target of NEAT1, and suppression of NEAT1 weakened LPS-induced injury by upregulating miR-93-5p in HK2 cells. Furthermore, TXNIP was a downstream target of miR-93-5p, and miR-93-5p attenuated LPS-induced HK2 cell injury by downregulating TXNIP. In addition, NEAT1 regulated TXNIP expression by acting as a sponge of miR-93-5p. NEAT1 might aggravate LPS-induced injury in HK2 cells by regulating miR-93-5p/TXNIP axis, providing a potential therapeutic strategy for sepsis-associated AKI.

Astragaloside IV alleviates PM2.5-induced lung injury in rats by modulating TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signalling pathway

OBJECTIVE

Astragaloside IV (AS IV) is antioxidant and anti-inflammatory product, which is extracted from the Chinese herb Astragalus membranaceus. It is widely used in a variety of inflammatory diseases. The research was to explored the protective effects of AS IV against lung injury induced by particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) in vivo.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Thirty-five male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups (n=7 per group). (1) Normal saline group (NS), (2) AS IV group (AS) (100 mg/kg), (3) PM2.5 group (PM2.5), (4) PM2.5 + AS IV group (ASL) (50 mg/kg), and (5) PM2.5 + AS IVgroup (ASH) (100 mg/kg). Rats were pre-treated with AS IV intraperitoneally (50 and 100 mg/kg/day) for three days. Then, PM2.5 (7.5 mg/kg) was given by intratracheal instillation to induce lung injury. Six hours after PM2.5 stimulation, the rats were euthanized. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected for assay of cytokines. Lung tissue was collected for oxidative stress, histology, immunohistochemistry, transmission electron microscope, and western blot analyses.

RESULTS

AS IV alleviated PM2.5-induced lung injury by decreasing lung dry-wet ratio, reducing the level of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and C-reactive protein (CRP) in BALF, and reduced oxidative stress response in lung tissue. Western blot results revealed that AS-IV regulated the expression of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway proteins in lung tissues.

CONCLUSION

AS IV mitigated PM2.5 induced lung injury by regulating the activity of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signalling pathway, reducing inflammatory and oxidative stress responses.

Panax quinquefolius L. Saponins Protect Myocardial Ischemia Reperfusion No-Reflow Through Inhibiting the Activation of NLRP3 Inflammasome via TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB Signaling Pathway

At present, many patients who undergo reperfusion immediately after percutaneous coronary intervention will undergo microvascular obstruction and reduction in myocardial blood flow. This phenomenon is called "no-reflow (NR)," and there is still no effective therapy for NR. Studies showed Panax quinquefolius L. saponins (PQS) have effect on MI/R injury, while the effect and mechanism of PQS on MI/R induced NR are not clear. In this study, we established a MI/R model to investigate whether PQS decrease NR phenomenon via suppression of inflammation. We found that PQS significantly alleviated the symptoms of NR by reducing ischemia, infarction, and NR area; improving cardiac function; preventing pathological morphology changes of myocardium; depressing leukocytes' aggregation and adhesion; and suppressing the excessive inflammation. Further study demonstrated that PQS remarkably inhibited TLR4, MyD88, p-NF-κB, and NLRP3 inflammasome-associated protein, and these effects could be reversed by LPS. These results indicated that PQS may protect NR by inhibiting the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome via TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway in part, suggesting that PQS exist potential in preventing NR induced by MI/R.

Mapping the Multi-Organ miRNA-mRNA Regulatory Network in LPS-Mediated Endotoxemic Mice: Exploring the Shared Underlying Key Genes and Mechanisms

Background

To this day, the molecular mechanism of endotoxin-induced multi-organ failure has not been completely clarified. This study aimed to construct an miRNA-mRNA regulatory network and identify main pathways and key genes in multi-organ of LPS-mediated endotoxemic mice.

Methods

Public datasets from six mRNA and three miRNA microarray datasets were downloaded from the GEO website to screen final differentially expressed genes (FDEGs) and hub genes in the heart, lung, liver, and kidney of LPS-mediated endotoxemic mice. Functional and pathway enrichment analysis of FDEGs was used to identify the main pathways in multi-organ damage of LPS-treated mice. Finally, hub genes of each organ were intersected to obtain the key genes of multi-organ.

Results

Firstly, 158, 358, 299, and 91 FDEGs were identified in the heart, lung, liver, and kidney, respectively. The pathway enrichment analysis of the FDEGs then showed that the TNF signaling pathway, Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, and some viral-infection-related pathways (influenza A, measles, and herpes simplex) were the main pathways in multi-organ damage of LPS-mediated endotoxemic mice. Moreover, miRNA-mRNA or PPI regulatory networks were constructed based on FDEGs. According to these networks, 31, 34, 34, and 31 hub genes were identified in the heart, lung, liver, and kidney, respectively. Among them, nine key genes (Cd274, Cxcl1, Cxcl9, Icam1, Ifit2, Isg15, Stat1, Tlr2, and Usp18) were enriched in Toll-like receptor signaling pathway and chemokine signaling pathway. Finally, seven potential drugs were predicted based on these key genes.

Conclusion

The shared underlying molecular pathways in endotoxin-induced multi-organ damage that have been identified include Toll-like receptor signaling pathway and TNF signaling pathway. Besides, nine key genes (Cd274, Cxcl1, Cxcl9, Icam1, Ifit2, Isg15, Stat1, Tlr2, and Usp18) and seven potential drugs were identified. Our data provide a new sight and potential target for future therapy in endotoxemia-induced multi-organ failure.