Anti-inflammatory effects of triptolide in LPS-induced acute lung injury in mice.

Abstract

Triptolide is one of the main active components of Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F, which has been demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of triptolide on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in mice and to clarify the possible mechanisms. Mice were administered intranasally with LPS to induce lung injury. Triptolide was administered intraperitoneally 1 h before LPS challenge. Triptolide-treated mice exhibited significantly reduced leukocyte, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, edema of the lung, as well as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 production in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid compared with LPS-treated mice. Additionally, Western blot analysis showed that triptolide inhibited the phosphorylation of inhibitor-kappa B kinase-alpha (IκB-α), p65, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), p38, extracellular receptor kinase (ERK), and Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and the expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) caused by LPS. In conclusion, our results suggested that the promising anti-inflammatory mechanism of triptolide may be that triptolide activates peroxisome proliferation-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ), thereby attenuating an LPS-induced inflammatory response. Triptolide may be a promising potential therapeutic reagent for ALI treatment.

• Authors: Dong Wei, Zhihong Huang
• Journal: Inflammation (Inflammation) Vol. 37 Issue 4 Pg. 1307-16 (Aug 2014) ISSN: 1573-2576 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24706025 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Diterpenes
• Epoxy Compounds
• Interleukin-1beta
• Interleukin-6
• Ligands
• Lipopolysaccharides
• NF-kappa B
• PPAR gamma
• Phenanthrenes
• Plant Extracts
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
• triptolide
• Peroxidase

Topics

• Acute Lung Injury (drug therapy)
• Animals
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (pharmacology)
• Diterpenes (pharmacology)
• Epoxy Compounds (pharmacology)
• Interleukin-1beta (metabolism)
• Interleukin-6 (metabolism)
• Leukocytes (cytology)
• Ligands
• Lipopolysaccharides (chemistry)
• MAP Kinase Signaling System
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• NF-kappa B (metabolism)
• PPAR gamma (metabolism)
• Peroxidase (metabolism)
• Phenanthrenes (pharmacology)
• Plant Extracts (chemistry)
• Tripterygium (metabolism)
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (metabolism)