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Baicalein Attenuates Severe Polymicrobial Sepsis via Alleviating Immune Dysfunction of T Lymphocytes and Inflammation

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Abstract

Objective

To investigate the effect of baicalein on polymicrobial sepsis-induced immune dysfunction and organ injury.

Methods

A sepsis model was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats via caecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Specific pathogen free rats were randomly divided into a sham group, CLP group and CLP + baicalein (Bai) group (n=16 each). Rats in the CLP + Bai group were intravenously injected with baicalein (20 mg/kg) at 1 and 10 h after CLP. Survival rate, bacterial load, and organ damage were assessed. Then each group was evaluated at 6, 12, and 24 h to investigate the effect of baicalein on immune cells and inflammatory cytokines in septic rats.

Results

Baicalein treatment significantly improved the survival of septic rats, decreased the bacterial burden, and moderated tissue damage (spleen, liver, and lung), as observed by haematoxylin and eosin staining. Septic rats treated with baicalein had strikingly increased proportions of CD3+CD4+ T cells and ratios of CD4+/CD8+ T cells in the peripheral blood and spleen (all P<0.05). Moreover, baicalein treatment decreased the apoptotic rate of whole white blood cells and spleen cells at 24 h after surgery (P<0.05). Baicalein significantly reduced the levels of tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and increased IL-10, and the expression levels of galectin 9 were also raised in the spleen (P<0.01).

Conclusion

Baicalein may be an effective immunomodulator that attenuates overwhelming inflammatory responses in severe abdominal sepsis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biodiagnosis and Biotherapy, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710004, China

    Hai-yan Chen, Shu Zhang, Jun Li, Na Huang, Jin Sun, Bao-hua Li & Zong-fang Li

  2. Core Research Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710004, China

    Hai-yan Chen, Na Huang & Bao-hua Li

  3. Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710004, China

    Shu Zhang

  4. Shaanxi Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatic & Splenic Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710004, China

    Jun Li, Jin Sun & Zong-fang Li

  5. Department of Pathology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710004, China

    Jun Yang

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  1. Hai-yan Chen
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  2. Shu Zhang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zong-fang Li.

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Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no potential conflicts of interests.

Author Contributions

Chen HY, Zhang S, Yang J and Li ZF designed the research; Chen HY, Li J, Huang N, Sun J and Li BH performed the research; Chen HY wrote the first draft of the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Supported by Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University, China (No. IRT1171)

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Chen, Hy., Zhang, S., Li, J. et al. Baicalein Attenuates Severe Polymicrobial Sepsis via Alleviating Immune Dysfunction of T Lymphocytes and Inflammation. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 28, 711–718 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-022-3510-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-022-3510-7

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