ABSTRACT
Aim To investigate the hepatotoxicity of rutecarpine(RUT)by using high-content screening technology.Methods HepG2 cells were exposed to different concentrations of RUT for different time, then cell viability was detected by MTT method.Cell count, nucleus injury, mitochondrial membrane potential(MMP), reactive oxygen species(ROS), internal flow of calcium, cell membrane integrity(DIR)were measured by high-content screening technology.The activation of MAPK, NF-κB and JAKs-STATs was assayed by high-content screening technology.The apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry.Results The viability was significantly reduced by 100 μmol·L-1 RUT(P<0.01)after HepG2 cell exposure to RUT for 24 h, the nuclear area decreased and the nuclear morphology was uneven, and after 48 h, the cell count was significantly reduced(P<0.01), the early apoptosis was detected(P<0.01).After HepG2 cell exposure to RUT for 6 h, the levels of ROS and internal flow of calcium significantly increased(P<0.01), and the cell membrane integrity was obviously damaged(P<0.01).After exposure to 100 μmol·L-1 RUT for 24 h, the phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, STAT3 and p38 significantly increased(P<0.01, P<0.05), but there was no significant change in total protein level.The expression of c-Jun and c-Fos was up-regulated at 3 h(P<0.01), and at 3h time point, the phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 significantly increased(P<0.01), but nuclear translocation was not significant.Conclusions Under certain conditions, RUT shows cytotoxicity on HepG2 cells, and its toxic mechanism is mainly related to injury caused by oxidative stress and inflammatory response.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome presents with not only local inflammation, but also pulmonary coagulopathy which is characterized by an alveolar procoagulant response, anticoagulant inhibition, fibrinolytic supression and fibrin deposition. We thus had hypothesized that if aerosolized unfractionated heparin was inhaled into alveolar spaces, it could block the procoagulant tendency, lessen depletion of coagulation factors, and even influence the inflammatory response. We also assessed the effects of different administration regimens of heparin.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Male Wistar rats were given inhaled heparin starting 30 minutes before (prophylactic heparin) or 2 hours after (therapeutic heparin) intravenous lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was administered at 6-hour intervals; control groups received inhaled normal saline with or without being exposed to LPS. Thrombin-antithrombin complexes, activated protein C, tissue type and urokinase type plasminogen activators (t-PA/u-PA), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6 in bronchoalveolar lavage, and lung tissue myeloperoxidase activity, and histology score were measured at three time-points. PAI-1/(t-PA + u-PA) was calculated based on the before-mentioned parameters. Statistical analysis was made using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with post hoc test or Student's t test in the case of heterogeneity of variance.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>An alveolar procoagulant reaction, depressed fibrinolysis, and inflammatory response occurred in endotoxemia-induced lung injury. Local prophylactic application of heparin attenuated coagulation and early inflammation, promoted fibrinolysis, and reduced the histology score. Therapeutic application of heparin had similar, but weaker effects.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Intrapulmonary application of unfractionated heparin by inhalation might inhibit alveolar procoagulant reaction and the early inflammatory response, promote fibrinolysis, and alleviate pulmonary pathology in endotoxemia-induced lung injury rats. Administration of heparin before LPS challenge was more efficacious.</p>