Protective effect of the fruit hull of Gleditsia sinensis on LPS-induced acute lung injury is associated with Nrf2 activation

Jun Young Choi, Min Jung Kwun, Kyun Ha Kim, Ji Hyo Lyu, Chang Woo Han, Han Sol Jeong, Ki Tae Ha, Hee Jae Jung, Beom Joon Lee, Ruxana T. Sadikot, John W. Christman, Sung Ki Jung, Myungsoo Joo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

25 Scopus citations

Abstract

The fruit hull of Gleditsia sinensis (FGS) has been prescribed as a traditional eastern Asian medicinal remedy for the treatment of various respiratory diseases, but the efficacy and underlying mechanisms remain poorly characterized. Here, we explored a potential usage of FGS for the treatment of acute lung injury (ALI), a highly fatal inflammatory lung disease that urgently needs effective therapeutics, and investigated a mechanism for the anti-inflammatory activity of FGS. Pretreatment of C57BL/6 mice with FGS significantly attenuated LPS-induced neutrophilic lung inflammation compared to sham-treated, inflamed mice. Reporter assays, semiquantitative RT-PCR, and Western blot analyses show that while not affecting NF-κB, FGS activated Nrf2 and expressed Nrf2-regulated genes including GCLC, NQO-1, and HO-1 in RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, pretreatment of mice with FGS enhanced the expression of GCLC and HO-1 but suppressed that of proinflammatory cytokines in including TNF- and IL-1β in the inflamed lungs. These results suggest that FGS effectively suppresses neutrophilic lung inflammation, which can be associated with, at least in part, FGS-activating anti-inflammatory factor Nrf2. Our results suggest that FGS can be developed as a therapeutic option for the treatment of ALI.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number974713
JournalEvidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Volume2012
DOIs
StatePublished - 2012
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Complementary and alternative medicine

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