Kaempferitrin alleviates LPS-induced septic acute lung injury in mice through downregulating NF-κB pathway

BACKGROUND: Acute lung injury (ALI) causes severe and uncontrolled pulmonary inflammation and has high morbidity in dying patients. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the potential function of Kaempferitrin (Kae) and uncover its mechanisms in ALI. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We evaluated the role of Kae in ALI through the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced histopathological changes, lung wet/dry (W/D) ratio, total bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cells count, pulmonary inflammation, and the levels of interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and IL-1β. The effect of Kae on NF-κB signaling pathway was discovered through the protein expression levels of transcription factors p65, p-p65, IκBα, and p-IκBα by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: The results showed that Kae could improve lung injury by reducing apoptosis, histopathological changes, and lung W/D ratio; more importantly, Kae enhanced the survival of ALI mice. Moreover, Kae relieved inflammation, as it reduced total BALF cells count, and deceased the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in serum. In addition, Western blot analysis data suggested that Kae could decrease the protein expression levels of transcription factors p65, p-p65, IκB-α, and p-IκB-α, which were promoted by LPS. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggested that Kae could relieve LPS-induced ALI in mice and reduce inflammation and apoptosis through NF-κB pathway.