alloin and Lung-Diseases

Aloin is the major anthraquinone glycoside obtained from the Aloe species and exhibits anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative activities. Here, we aimed to determine the effects of aloin on heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) induction and on the expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX) 2 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). To the end, aloin was tested whether aloin reduces iNOS protein expression and inflammatory markers (interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α) in LPS-treated mice lung tissue. The results indicated that aloin affected HO-1 induction and reduced LPS-activated NF-κB-luciferase activity showed to preferential inhibition of iNOS/NO and COX-2/PGE2 that was partly related to inhibition of STAT-1 phosphorylation. In particular, aloin induced translocation of Nrf2 from cytosol into the nucleus by an increased Nrf2-ARE binding activity, and reduced IL-1β production in LPS-activated HUVECs. The reduced expression of iNOS/NO by aloin was reversed by siHO-1RNA-transfection. In LPS-treated mice, aloin significantly reduced iNOS protein in lung tissues, and TNF-α levels in the BALF. We concluded that aloin may be beneficial for treatment of lung injury.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Cyclooxygenase 2; Emodin; Heme Oxygenase-1; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells; Humans; Lung Diseases; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; NF-kappa B; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; Plant Extracts; STAT1 Transcription Factor; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha