Suberosin Alleviates Sepsis-Induced Lung Injury in A Rat Model of Cecal Ligation and Puncture

Background/aims Sepsis is one of the major problems encountered in intensive care units, causing organ damage and increasing mortality. Suberosin (SBR) is a type of coumarin with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The goal of this study is to explore the protective effects of SBR on the lungs in a rat model of sepsis. Methods Male Wistar rats were utilized in this study. A cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model was applied to induce sepsis. Rats were separated into six groups with nine animals in each group, including healthy control, SBR, CLP, and CLP + SBR (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg) groups. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH) enzyme activities, and malondialdehyde (MDA) level were measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The messenger RNA (mRNA) expressions of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) were evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Histopathological changes in the lungs were investigated with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). Results MDA levels and GSH and SOD enzyme activities were negatively affected in the CLP group, but SBR treatment ameliorated these oxidative stress parameters in the SBR1-3 groups (p< 0.05). The mRNA expressions of TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta were increased in the CLP group, and SBR treatment decreased those expression levels in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05). Organ damage and necrosis were seen in the CLP group and were alleviated in the SBR3 group. Immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis of lung tissues demonstrated decreased TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta immunopositivity in the SBR1-3 groups (p< 0.05). Conclusions SBR ameliorated sepsis-related lung injury in a dose-dependent manner. This compound has significant potential as a future agent in the treatment of sepsis.