Artesunate reduces serum lipopolysaccharide in cecal ligation/puncture mice via enhanced LPS internalization by macrophages through increased mRNA expression of scavenger receptors.

ABSTRACT: Innate immunity is the first line of defense in human beings against pathogen infection; monocytes/macrophages are the primary cells of the innate immune system. Recently, macrophages/monocytes have been discovered to participate in LPS clearance, and the clearance efficiency determines the magnitude of the inflammatory response and subsequent organ injury. Previously, we reported that artesunate (AS) protected sepsis mice against heat-killed E. coli challenge. Herein, we further confirmed that AS protected cecal ligation/puncture (CLP) sepsis mice. Its protection on sepsis mice was related to not only reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines and serum LPS levels but also improvement of liver function. Based on the fact that AS did not directly bind and neutralize LPS, we hypothesized that

SUBMITTER: Li B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3907860 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature