Baicalin Relieves LPS-Induced Lung Inflammation via the NF-κB and MAPK Pathways.

Baicalin is an active ingredient extracted from the Chinese medicine Scutellaria and has many beneficial effects. Pulmonary interstitial and alveolar edema are common symptoms of an acute lung injury (ALI). We investigated the effects of baicalin on LPS-induced inflammation and the underlying mechanisms in mice and cells. The protein contents and mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6 in RAW264.7 cells and mice were detected using ELISA and qRT-PCR. Baicalin significantly suppressed TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6 levels and expression, both in vitro and in vivo, compared with the LPS group. Baicalin inhibits the expression of TLR4 and MyD88, resulting in significant decreases in p-p65, p-p38, p-ERK, and p-JNK, as measured by the Western blotting of RAW264.7 cells. A baicalin treatment for 12 h resulted in a rapid increasing of the white blood cell number and significantly improved the pathological changes in the lung. We also found that the baicalin pretreatment for 12 h could decrease the MPO content and wet/dry (W/D) weight ratio, which indicates that baicalin can significantly reduce pulmonary edema. Furthermore, the baicalin pretreatment also resulted in the recovery of TGF-ß protein levels and decreased iNOS. Baicalin inhibits ALI inflammation in mice and cells and is a potential candidate for the treatment of ALI.

Amelioration of Diabetic Mouse Nephropathy by Catalpol Correlates with Down-Regulation of Grb10 Expression and Activation of Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 / Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 Receptor Signaling.

Growth factor receptor-bound protein 10 (Grb10) is an adaptor protein that can negatively regulate the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R). The IGF1-1R pathway is critical for cell growth and apoptosis and has been implicated in kidney diseases; however, it is still unknown whether Grb10 expression is up-regulated and plays a role in diabetic nephropathy. Catalpol, a major active ingredient of a traditional Chinese medicine, Rehmannia, has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory and anti-aging activities and then used to treat diabetes. Herein, we aimed to assess the therapeutic effect of catalpol on a mouse model diabetic nephropathy and the potential role of Grb10 in the pathogenesis of this diabetes-associated complication. Our results showed that catalpol treatment improved diabetes-associated impaired renal functions and ameliorated pathological changes in kidneys of diabetic mice. We also found that Grb10 expression was significantly elevated in kidneys of diabetic mice as compared with that in non-diabetic mice, while treatment with catalpol significantly abrogated the elevated Grb10 expression in diabetic kidneys. On the contrary, IGF-1 mRNA levels and IGF-1R phosphorylation were significantly higher in kidneys of catalpol-treated diabetic mice than those in non-treated diabetic mice. Our results suggest that elevated Grb10 expression may play an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy through suppressing IGF-1/IGF-1R signaling pathway, which might be a potential molecular target of catalpol for the treatment of this diabetic complication.