Protective effect of quercetin on acute lung injury in rats with sepsis and its influence on ICAM-1 and MIP-2 expression

Abstract

ABSTRACT. This study aimed to explore the protective effect of quercetin on acute lung injury (ALI) in rats with sepsis and the related mechanism. Rats were administered different doses of quercetin intraperitoneally, and blood samples and lung tissue were collected at 24 h after treatment. Arterial blood gases, lung water content, protein content, and cell counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured. Morphological changes in lung tissue pathology were observed under a light microscope. Serum intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 and macrophage inflammatory protein 2 (MIP-2) levels were detected and ICAM-1 and MIP-2 mRNA expression in lung tissue was determined. Compared with that in the control model group, arterial blood gases, lung water content, protein content, and cell counts in BALF improved in the high-and low-dose quercetin groups (P < 0.05), with maximal improvement observed for the highdose quercetin (P < 0.05). Lesions on the lungs improved in the high- and low-dose quercetin groups than those in the control model group, and the high-dose quercetin group showed better improvement than the low-dose group (P < 0.05). Compared with that in the sham-operated group, both serum and lung tissue ICAM-1 and MIP-2 expression increased significantly in the model group (P < 0.05). The quercetin groups presented lower ICAM-1 and MIP-2 expression than the control model group, with the lowest expression observed in the high-dose group (P < 0.05). Quercetin may protect against ALI in rats with sepsis by inhibiting ICAM-1 and MIP-2 expression.

The phytoactive constituents of Eugenia selloi B.D. Jacks (pitangatuba): Toxicity and elucidation of their anti-inflammatory mechanism(s) of action

“…Cytokines released by macrophages can stimulate endothelial cells to express ICAM-1 for leukocyte adhesion onto the vascular endothelium ( Peres et al, 2016 ). Meng et al (2016) reported that quercetin decreased the number of leukocytes recruited to lung tissues and inhibited ICAM-1 expression.…”

Plants’ bioactive secondary metabolites in the management of sepsis: Recent findings on their mechanism of action

“…Additionally, Meng et al (2016) studied the protective effect of quercetin on acute lung injury in rats with sepsis by administration of the compound at doses of 30 and 50 mg/kg. Quercetin showed improvement in arterial blood gases, lung water content, protein content, and cell counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in comparison to control model group.…”