OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of ulinastatin (UTI) on HK-2 cells during paraquat (PQ)-induced injury and its underlying mechanisms.

METHODSRoutinely cultured HK-2 cells were divided into blank control group, PQ group, UTI+PQ group and UTI group. Cell viability was determined by CCK-8 assay. The concentration of PQ in HK-2 cells were measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The production of total reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected by fluorescence microscopy. The activities of superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in HK-2 cells were observed by chemical colorimetry. The levels of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSPQ, even at a dose of 200 µM, could significant suppress the viability of HK-2 cells in a dose-dependent and time-dependent. UTI showed no significant inhibitory effect on the viability of HK-2 cells when given at a dose below 8 000 U/ml (P > 0.05). Compared with the PQ group, the UTI+PQ group had significantly increased the viability of HK-2 cells in a dose-dependent of UTI (P < 0.05). Compared with the PQ group on the same hour, the UTI+PQ group showed decreased in PQ concentration in HK-2 cells (P < 0.05 for all except 6 h). Compared with the blank control group, the PQ group had significantly decreased SOD activity and significantly increased ROS level and MDA content (P < 0.05). Compared with the PQ group, the UTI+PQ group had significantly increased SOD activity and significantly decreased ROS level and MDA content (P < 0.05). Compared with the blank control group, the PQ group had significantly increased IL-6 and TNF-α level (P < 0.05); Compared with the PQ group, the UTI+PQ group had significantly decreased IL-6 and TNF-α level (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONUTI significantly reduces the PQ-induced oxidative damage and inflammatory injury and its mechanism may be by reducing the accumulation of PQ in HK-2 cells.

Cell Line ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Glycoproteins ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Paraquat ; toxicity ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of thalidomide in a mouse model of paraquat-induced acute lung injury and the mechanisms underlying the properties of thalidomide.

METHODSMale ICR mice were randomly allocated into four groups: nomal control group (n = 30), thalidomide control group (n = 30), paraquat poisioning group (n = 30) and thalidomide treatment group (n = 90). Mice were sacrificed at 1d, 3d and 7d after paraquat poisioning. The level of (MDA) malondialdehyde, Superoxidedi-smutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) in the lung tissue were measuerd by chemical colorimetry. The expression of Nrf2 mRNA was determined by RT-PCR; Nuclear protein Nrf2 was abserved by Western blotting; Pathological changes of lung tissue were observed under light microscope by HE stain; the lung apoptosis cells were detected by TUNEL.

RESULTSThe levels of MDA, SOD and the expressions Nrf2 mRNA and protein Nrf2 in lung tissue were all markedly increased in mice of paraquat poisioning group than those in nomal group at 1 d, 3 d, 7 d. In contrast, the levels of GSH were decreaseel (P<0.05). Compared with paraquat poisioning group, the pulmonary SOD, Nrf2 mRNA and protein were increased and the lung wet dry ratio were all significantly decreased in mice of THD treatment group at 1 d, 3 d, 7 d (P<0.05). THD alleviated the pulmonary damage in the lightmicroscope at 3d after paraquat poisioning. The apoptosis index was markedly decreased in THD treatment groups comparing to paraquat piosioning group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSLipid peroxide damage was one of the mechanisms of paraquat poisioning, thalidomide could attenuate paraquat-induced acute lung injury and its mechanism may be activating the Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway to protect mouse from Lipid peroxide damage.

Acute Lung Injury ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Lung ; pathology ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2 ; metabolism ; Paraquat ; toxicity ; Signal Transduction ; Thalidomide ; pharmacology