Carvacrol protects mice against LPS-induced sepsis and attenuates inflammatory response in macrophages by modulating the ERK1/2 pathway

作者：Yan, Chenghua^*; Kuang, Wendong; Jin, Liang; Wang, Rongliang; Niu, Ling; Xie, Chuanqi; Ding, Jian; Liao, Yongcui; Wang, Liyuan; Wan, Hongjiao; Ma, Guangqiang^*

来源：Scientific Reports, 2023, 13(1): 12809.

DOI：10.1038/s41598-023-39665-7

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Macrophages play an important role in the development of life-threatening sepsis, which is characterized by multiorgan dysfunction, through their ability to produce inflammatory cytokines. Carvacrol is a phenolic compound that has been confirmed to possess strong anti-inflammatory activity. In this study, we mainly investigated the effect of carvacrol on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced macrophage proinflammatory responses and endotoxic shock. The results showed that carvacrol significantly reduced mouse body weight loss and ameliorated pathological damage to the liver, lung, and heart under LPS-induced sepsis. Carvacrol attenuated inflammatory responses by inhibiting the LPS-induced production of inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, carvacrol inhibited IL-6 production mainly through the ERK1/2 signalling pathway in macrophages. Furthermore, carvacrol improved the survival of septic mice. This study sheds light on the role of carvacrol in the pathogenesis of LPS-induced sepsis, and thus, its potential in treating sepsis patients may be considered.

• 单位
  1; 南昌大学