Radix Sophorae Flavescentis of Sophora flavescens Aiton inhibits LPS-induced macrophage pro-inflammatory response via regulating CFHR2 expression

Xiaoying Wu; Li Li; Jinhabure; Xiaofeng; Eerdunchaolu

doi:10.1016/j.jep.2024.118210

Radix Sophorae Flavescentis of Sophora flavescens Aiton inhibits LPS-induced macrophage pro-inflammatory response via regulating CFHR2 expression

J Ethnopharmacol. 2024 Apr 17:118210. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118210. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Xiaoying Wu¹, Li Li², Jinhabure³, Xiaofeng⁴, Eerdunchaolu⁵

Affiliations

¹ Mongolian Medical College, Inner Mongolia Minzu University, Tongliao City 028000, Inner Mongolia, P.R. China; Lioning Province Mongolian Medicine Hospital, Fuxin City 123199, Liaoning, P.R. China. Electronic address: wuxiaoying08@163.com.
² Second Department of Encephalopathy, Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Minzu University, Tongliao City 028007, Inner Mongolia, P.R. China. Electronic address: lili7890801@163.com.
³ Medicated Bath Department, Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Minzu University, Tongliao City 028007, Inner Mongolia, P.R. China. Electronic address: jhaburi@163.com.
⁴ First Department of Encephalopathy, Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Minzu University, Tongliao City 028007, Inner Mongolia, P.R. China. Electronic address: xiaofeng1592022@163.com.
⁵ Mongolian Medical College, Inner Mongolia Minzu University, Tongliao City 028000, Inner Mongolia, P.R. China. Electronic address: jinchaolu@163.com.

PMID: 38641074
DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118210

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Long-term chronic inflammation often leads to chronic diseases. Although Sophora flavescens has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties, its detailed molecular mechanism is still unknown.

Aim of study: This study investigated the effect of Radix Sophorae Flavescentis on the LPS-induced inflammatory response in macrophages.

Materials and methods: LPS was used to induce the peritoneal macrophages to simulate the inflammatory environment in vitro. Different concentrations of Radix Sophorae Flavescentis-containing (medicated) serum were used for intervention. The peritoneal macrophages were identified by using hematoxylin-eosin and immunofluorescence staining. ELISA was used to measure the TNF-α and IL-6 expression to determine the concentration of LPS. ELISA and Western blot (WB) were used to detect the PGE2 and CFHR2 expression in each group, respectively. The lentiviral vector for interference and overexpression of the CFHR2 gene was constructed, packaged, and transfected into LPS-induced macrophages. The transfection efficiency was verified by WB. Then, ELISA was used to detect the TNF-α, PGE2, and IL-6 expression. WB was used to detect the CFHR2, iNOS, COX-2, TLR2, TLR4, IFN-γ, STAT1, and p-STAT1 expression.

Results: The primary isolated cells were identified as macrophages. The LPS-treated macrophages exhibited significantly higher expression of PGE2 and CFHR2 and the inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-6, as well as iNOS, COX-2, TLR2, TLR4, IFN-γ, STAT1, and p-STAT1 expression compared with the control group (P<0.05). The TNF-α, PGE2, and IL-6 levels, as well as CFHR2, iNOS, COX-2, TLR2, TLR4, IFN-γ, STAT1, and p-STAT1 expression were considerably lower in the LPS-induced+10% medicated-serum group, LPS-induced+20% medicated-serum group, and shCFHR interference group compared with the LPS group (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Radix Sophorae Flavescentis might mediate CFHR2 expression and play an important role in inhibiting the LPS-induced pro-inflammatory response of macrophages. Radix Sophorae Flavescentis could be a potential treatment for LPS-induced related inflammatory diseases.

Keywords: CFHR2; Inflammatory; LPS; Macrophages; Radix Sophorae Flavescentis medicated serum; Sophora flavescens.