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Abstract
Acute lung injury (ALI) is a common disease characterized by pulmonary inflammation
and oxidative stress. Sinomenine (SIN) is an alkaloid originally extracted from the
Chinese medicinal plant Sinomenium acutum. It has been shown to have anti-inflammatory
and anti-oxidative effect. However, it's unclear whether SIN can alleviate ALI. In
this study, we assessed the effect of SIN on Escherichia coli (E.coli)-induced ALI
mouse model. Mice were conditioned with SIN or placebo 1 h before intratracheally
instilled with E.coli. Lung water content, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, superoxide
dismutase (SOD) activity, Myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels and inflammatory cytokines
production were measured. Immunohistochemistry and western blot were performed to
measure target protein expression. E.coli induced histological changes indicating
tissues damage and increased W/D ratio, MPO activity, MDA content, and inflammatory
cytokines production in the Lung. Whereas in mice pretreated with SIN, these changes
were absent. E.coli-induced NF-κB activation was also inhibited by SIN. In addition,
SIN increased the expression of HO-1, NQO1 and Nrf2 in lung tissues. Our results suggest
that SIN attenuates ALI through the inhibition of inflammation and oxidative stress.