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Quercetin exerts cardiovascular protective effects in LPS-induced dysfunction in vivo by regulating inflammatory cytokine expression, NF-κB phosphorylation, and caspase activity

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Abstract

Impaired myocardial contractile function, one of the well-documented features of sepsis, contributes greatly to the high rate of mortality. Quercetin is widely accepted as a potential antioxidant and free radical scavenger. Epidemiologic studies have suggested that an increase in the intake of dietary Quercetin can reduce the risk of cardiac disease. However, presently there is no report yet on the influence of Quercetin on LPS-induced myocardial dysfunction in vivo. Cardiovascular protective effects of Quercetin on LPS-induced sepsis in mice were measured after intragastric administration, using normal saline as a positive control. Quercetin pretreatment significantly alleviated LPS-induced cardiac abnormalities in mice. The histopathologic findings in the present study justify the findings reported from the biochemical analyses. Our observation from the present research work reveals that Quercetin suppressed the production of proinflammatory cytokines at different levels, such as TNF-α and IL-1β, and inhibits the activation of I-κB phosphorylation, whereas the total content was not affected. Apoptotic pathways are related to Quercetin protection in the development of myocardial dysfunction. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate the adjuvant potentials of Quercetin for clinical sepsis treatment.

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Abbreviations

LPS:

Lipopolysaccharide

EF:

Ejection fraction

NF-κB:

Nuclear factor-κB

FS:

Fractional shortening

BCA:

Bicinchoninic acid

OD:

Optical density

TNF-α:

Tumor necrosis factor-α

IL-1β:

Interleukin-beta

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, Shandong, People’s Republic of China

    Xiqing Wei & Jun Yang

  2. Department of Cardiology, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical College Qingdao University, 20 Yudong Road, Yantai, 264000, Shandong, People’s Republic of China

    Jun Yang

  3. Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining, 273500, Shandong, People’s Republic of China

    Xiqing Wei

  4. Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Zoucheng People’s Hospital, 59 Qianquan Road, Jining, 273500, Shandong, People’s Republic of China

    Xiangli Meng, Yuxiang Yuan, Fengjuan Shen & Chengqiu Li

Authors
  1. Xiqing Wei
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  2. Xiangli Meng
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  3. Yuxiang Yuan
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  4. Fengjuan Shen
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  5. Chengqiu Li
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  6. Jun Yang
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Contributions

JY and CL designed the study. XW, XL, YY, and CL performed the experiments and collected the data. CL and JY analyzed and interpreted the experimental data. XW and JY prepared the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Chengqiu Li or Jun Yang.

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Wei, X., Meng, X., Yuan, Y. et al. Quercetin exerts cardiovascular protective effects in LPS-induced dysfunction in vivo by regulating inflammatory cytokine expression, NF-κB phosphorylation, and caspase activity. Mol Cell Biochem 446, 43–52 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11010-018-3271-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11010-018-3271-6

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