Conclusion
AS-IV reduces the expression of inflammatory factors by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and optimizes the composition of the gut microflora in AIL rats.
Methods
Different doses of AS-IV (20mg·kg-1, 40mg·kg-1, and 80mg·kg-1) were administered to the ALI rat model, followed by collection of serum and broncho alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) for examination of the inflammatory response, and HE staining of the lung and colon tissues, and interpretation of the potential molecular mechanisms by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), Western blotting (WB). In addition, fecal samples from ALI rats were collected and analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing.
Results
AS-IV decreased the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in serum and BALF of mice with Acute lung injury (ALI). Lung and colon histopathology confirmed that AS-IV alleviated inflammatory infiltration, tissue edema, and structural changes. qRT-PCR and WB showed that AS-IV mainly improved inflammation by inhibiting the expression of PI3K, AKT and mTOR mRNA, and improved the disorder of intestinal microflora by increasing the number of beneficial bacteria and reducing the number of harmful bacteria.