International immunopharmacology
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Int. Immunopharmacol. · Sep 2014
Acute glutathione depletion leads to enhancement of airway reactivity and inflammation via p38MAPK-iNOS pathway in allergic mice.
Glutathione (GSH) plays a major role in allergic airway responses through a variety of mechanism which include direct scavenging of oxidative species, being a reducing equivalent and regulation of cellular signaling through redox sensitive mechanisms. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of acute GSH depletion on airway reactivity, inflammation and NO signaling in a mouse model of allergic asthma. ⋯ Treatment with p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and iNOS inhibitors attenuated the effects of GSH depletion on airway reactivity and inflammation through attenuation of nitrosative stress as evidenced by a decrease in NOx, nitrotyrosine, protein carbonyls and increase in total antioxidant capacity (TAC). In conclusion, these data suggest that acute depletion of glutathione is associated with alteration of airway responses through an increase in nitrosative stress in allergic airways of mice.
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Int. Immunopharmacol. · Sep 2014
Schisantherin A protects lipopolysaccharide-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome in mice through inhibiting NF-κB and MAPKs signaling pathways.
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is characterized by polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) adhesion, activation, sequestration and inflammatory damage to alveolar-capillary membrane. Schisantherin A, a dibenzocyclooctadiene lignan isolated from the fruit of Schisandra sphenanthera, has been reported to have anti-inflammatory properties. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the protective effects of schisantherin A on LPS-induced mouse ARDS. ⋯ In addition, the phosphorylation of nuclear transcription factor-kappaB (NF-κB) p65, inhibitory kappa B alpha (IκB-α), c-jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 induced by LPS were suppressed by schisantherin A. These findings indicated that schisantherin A exerted potent anti-inflammatory properties in LPS-induced mouse ARDS, possibly through blocking the activation of NF-KB and mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs) signaling pathways. Therefore, schisantherin A may be a potential agent for the prophylaxis of ARDS.