Artesunate protects immunosuppression mice induced by glucocorticoids via enhancing pro-inflammatory cytokines release and bacterial clearance.

ABSTRACT: Glucocorticoids are commonly used in clinic, but the immunosuppression seriously hinders their usage. Herein, immunomodulatory effect of artesunate (AS) on hydrocortisone (HC)-induced immunosuppression was investigated. HC-induced immunosuppression mice (HC mice) were established by intramuscular administration with HC (20 mg/kg) once a day for 5 consecutive days. The results showed HC mice challenged with Escherichia coli on the sixth day presented a lower ability to clear bacteria, decreased TNF-α in blood, decreased spleen index and thymus index. Significantly, AS (20 mg/kg) treatment not only enhanced the ability of HC mice to clear bacteria, but also increased spleen index, the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines from 78.7 ± 12.1 ng/ml (TNF-α) and 48.7 ± 8.6 pg/ml (IL-6) to 174.0 ± 9

SUBMITTER: Wang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7546998 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature