Taraxacum mongolicum protects against Staphylococcus aureus-infected mastitis by exerting anti-inflammatory role via TLR2-NF-κB/MAPKs pathways in mice

Bing-Jie Ge; Peng Zhao; Hai-Tao Li; Rui Sang; Meng Wang; Hong-Yuan Zhou; Xue-Mei Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.jep.2020.113595

Taraxacum mongolicum protects against Staphylococcus aureus-infected mastitis by exerting anti-inflammatory role via TLR2-NF-κB/MAPKs pathways in mice

J Ethnopharmacol. 2021 Mar 25:268:113595. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2020.113595. Epub 2020 Nov 16.

Authors

Bing-Jie Ge¹, Peng Zhao², Hai-Tao Li³, Rui Sang⁴, Meng Wang⁵, Hong-Yuan Zhou⁶, Xue-Mei Zhang⁷

Affiliations

¹ Agricultural College of Yanbian University, Gongyuan Street, Yanji, Jilin, 133002, China. Electronic address: 727965819@qq.com.
² Agricultural College of Yanbian University, Gongyuan Street, Yanji, Jilin, 133002, China. Electronic address: 153806850@qq.com.
³ Agricultural College of Yanbian University, Gongyuan Street, Yanji, Jilin, 133002, China; Institute of Special Wild Economic Animals and Plants, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Juye Street, Changchun, Jilin 132109, China. Electronic address: lihaitao@caas.cn.
⁴ Agricultural College of Yanbian University, Gongyuan Street, Yanji, Jilin, 133002, China. Electronic address: 1017585240@qq.com.
⁵ Agricultural College of Yanbian University, Gongyuan Street, Yanji, Jilin, 133002, China. Electronic address: 980958098@qq.com.
⁶ Agricultural College of Yanbian University, Gongyuan Street, Yanji, Jilin, 133002, China. Electronic address: 2019010596@ybu.edu.cn.
⁷ Agricultural College of Yanbian University, Gongyuan Street, Yanji, Jilin, 133002, China. Electronic address: zhangxm@ybu.edu.cn.

PMID: 33212175
DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2020.113595

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance: As a traditional Chinese medicine, Taraxacum mongolicum has been widely used for the prevention and treatment of a variety of inflammatory and infectious diseases, and also clinically used as a remedy for mastitis. However, the scientific rationale and mechanism behind its use on mastitis in vivo are still unclear.

Aim of the study: This study aimed to investigate the protective effect and potential mechanism of Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz. (T. mongolicum) on mastitis infected by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus).

Materials and methods: Female ICR mice were given intragastrically 2.5, 5 and 10 g/kg of T. mongolicum extract twice per day for 6 consecutive days, and infected with S. aureus via teat canal to induce mastitis. Pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) levels were determined by ELISA. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and distribution were measured by reagent kit and immunohistochemistry. Histopathological changes of mammary gland tissues were observed by H&E staining. Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) expression, phosphorylations of related proteins in nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) signaling pathways were detected by western blot.

Results: T. mongolicum decreased TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β levels, and reduced MPO activity and distribution in sera and mammary glands with S. aureus-infected mastitis. In addition, T. mongolicum effectively attenuated histopathological damages and cell necrosis of mammary gland tissues infected by S. aureus. Moreover, T. mongolicum inhibited the expression of TLR2, and the phosphorylations of inhibitor κBα (IκBα), p65, p38, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) proteins in mammary glands with S. aureus-infected mastitis.

Conclusions: This study suggests that T. mongolicum protects against S. aureus-infected mastitis by exerting anti-inflammatory role, which is attributed to the inhibition of TLR2-NF-κB/MAPKs pathways.

Keywords: MAPKs; Mastitis; NF-κB; TLR2; Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz..

MeSH terms

Animals
Anti-Inflammatory Agents / isolation & purification
Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology
Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use*
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Female
Lactation / drug effects
Lactation / metabolism
MAP Kinase Signaling System / drug effects*
MAP Kinase Signaling System / physiology
Mastitis / drug therapy*
Mastitis / metabolism
Mastitis / microbiology
Mice
Mice, Inbred ICR
NF-kappa B / antagonists & inhibitors*
NF-kappa B / metabolism
Plant Extracts / isolation & purification
Plant Extracts / pharmacology
Plant Extracts / therapeutic use
Random Allocation
Staphylococcal Infections / drug therapy*
Staphylococcal Infections / metabolism
Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects
Staphylococcus aureus / physiology
Taraxacum*
Toll-Like Receptor 2 / antagonists & inhibitors*
Toll-Like Receptor 2 / metabolism

Substances

Anti-Inflammatory Agents
NF-kappa B
Plant Extracts
Tlr2 protein, mouse
Toll-Like Receptor 2