Acute pancreatitis is an inflammatory response in the pancreas, involving activation of pancreatic enzymes. Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) often causes systemic complications that affect distant organs, including the lungs. The aim of this study was to explore the therapeutic potential of piperlonguminine on SAP-induced lung injury in rat models. Acute pancreatitis was induced in rats by repetitive injections with 4% sodium taurocholate. Histological examination and biochemical assays were used to assess the severity of lung injury, including tissue damage, and levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase 2 (NOX2), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase 4 (NOX4), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and inflammatory cytokines. We found that piperlonguminine significantly ameliorated pulmonary architectural distortion, hemorrhage, interstitial edema, and alveolar thickening in rats with SAP. In addition, NOX2, NOX4, ROS, and inflammatory cytokine levels in pulmonary tissues were notably decreased in piperlonguminine-treated rats. Piperlonguminine also attenuated the expression levels of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB). Together, our findings demonstrate for the first time that piperlonguminine can ameliorate acute pancreatitis-induced lung injury via inhibitory modulation of inflammatory responses by suppression of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.

中文翻译：

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胡椒碱通过 TLR4/NF-κB 通路对重症急性胰腺炎肺损伤的影响。

急性胰腺炎是胰腺的炎症反应，涉及胰酶的激活。重症急性胰腺炎 (SAP) 通常会引起影响远处器官（包括肺）的全身并发症。本研究的目的是探索胡椒碱对 SAP 诱导的大鼠肺损伤模型的治疗潜力。通过重复注射 4% 牛磺胆酸钠在大鼠中诱发急性胰腺炎。组织学检查和生化分析用于评估肺损伤的严重程度，包括组织损伤，以及烟酰胺腺嘌呤二核苷酸磷酸 (NADPH) 氧化酶 2 (NOX2)、烟酰胺腺嘌呤二核苷酸磷酸 (NADPH) 氧化酶 4 (NOX4)、活性氧水平种 (ROS) 和炎症细胞因子。我们发现胡椒碱显着改善了 SAP 大鼠的肺结构变形、出血、间质水肿和肺泡增厚。此外，经胡椒碱处理的大鼠肺组织中的 NOX2、NOX4、ROS 和炎症细胞因子水平显着降低。胡椒碱还减弱了 toll 样受体 4 (TLR4) 和核因子-kappa B (NF-κB) 的表达水平。总之，我们的研究结果首次证明胡椒碱可以通过抑制 TLR4/NF-κB 信号通路抑制炎症反应来改善急性胰腺炎引起的肺损伤。piperlonguminine 处理的大鼠肺组织中的炎症细胞因子水平显着降低。胡椒碱还减弱了 toll 样受体 4 (TLR4) 和核因子-kappa B (NF-κB) 的表达水平。总之，我们的研究结果首次证明胡椒碱可以通过抑制 TLR4/NF-κB 信号通路抑制炎症反应来改善急性胰腺炎引起的肺损伤。piperlonguminine 处理的大鼠肺组织中的炎症细胞因子水平显着降低。胡椒碱还减弱了 toll 样受体 4 (TLR4) 和核因子-kappa B (NF-κB) 的表达水平。总之，我们的研究结果首次证明胡椒碱可以通过抑制 TLR4/NF-κB 信号通路抑制炎症反应来改善急性胰腺炎引起的肺损伤。