Salidroside ameliorated the pulmonary inflammation induced by cigarette smoke via mitigating M1 macrophage polarization by JNK/c‐Jun

Abstract Pulmonary inflammation induced by cigarette smoke (CS) promoted the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and macrophage polarization caused by CS modulated inflammatory response. Previous studies indicated that salidroside exerted therapeutic effects in COPD, but the anti‐inflammatory mechanisms were not clear. This study aimed to explore the effects and mechanisms of salidroside on macrophage polarization induced by CS. Wistar rats received passively CS exposure and were treated intraperitoneally with salidroside at a low, medium or high dose. Lung tissues were stained with hematoxylin–eosin. Emphysema and inflammatory scores were evaluated by histomorphology. Lung function, cytokines, and cell differential counts in BALF were detected. The macrophage polarization was determined by immunohistochemistry in lung tissues. Alveolar macrophages (AMs) were isolated and treated with cigarette smoke extract (CSE), salidroside or inhibitors of relative pathways. The polarization status was determined by qPCR, and the protein level was detected by Western blotting. CS exposure induced emphysema and lung function deterioration. The inflammatory scores, cytokines level and neutrophils counts were elevated after CS exposure. Salidroside treatment partly ameliorated above abnormal. CS exposure activated M1 and M2 polarization of AMs in vivo and in vitro, and salidroside mitigated M1 polarization induced by CS. CSE activated the JNK/c‐Jun in AMs and the M1 polarization of AMs was inhibited by the inhibitors of JNK and AP‐1. Salidroside treatment deactivated the JNK/c‐Jun, which indicated that salidroside mitigated the M1 polarization of AMs induced by CS via inhibiting JNK/c‐Jun. Salidroside treatment ameliorated the pulmonary inflammation and M1 polarization of AMs induced by CS, and the process might be mediated by the deactivation of JNK/c‐Jun.