Objective To investigate the effect of atorvastatin calcium (AVT) on nuclear factor E2-related factor 2/ heme oxygenase1(Nrf2/HO-1) pathway in mice with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) -induced acute lung injury (ALI).Methods From September to December 2021, fifteen female BALB/c mice were assigned randomly into NS group (injection with normal saline), LPS group (ALI model inducted by intra-tail injection with LPS) and LPS+AVT group (ALI model treated by intragastric administration with AVT), with 5 mice in each group. The arterial blood was taken for detecting the partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) and the oxygenation index (PaO2/FiO2).The lung tissues were observed by HE staining and detected for wet/dry ratio (W/D). Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the expression of Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and western blot was used to proteins of Nrf2 and HO-1 in lung tissues.Results PaO2 in NS group, LPS group and LPS+AVT group was respectively [(89.66±8.54), (50.88±6.26), (67.84±5.76) mmHg]; PaO2/FiO2 was [(426.95±40.67), (242.29±29.79), (323.05±27.42) mmHg];W/D was (3.12±0.54, 4.95±0.60, 3.85±0.46); IL-1β was [(37.95±6.18), (115.09±12.42), (75.61±7.89) ng/L]; TNF-α was [(63.66±20.71),(330.99±41.71), (220.87±28.89) ng/L]; Nrf2 was (0.43±0.03, 0.08±0.02, 0.22±0.03) and HO-1 was (0.59±0.07, 0.09±0.03, 0.22 ±0.03).Compared with NS group, alveolar structure in LPS group was distorted, alveolar septa was thickened, alveolar spaces were accumulated with inflammatory cells; the levels of PaO2, PaO2/FiO2, and proteins of Nrf2 and HO-1 in pulmonary tissue were decresed (P<0.05), while W/D ratio, IL-1β and TNF-α in BALF were increased (P<0.05). Compared with the LPS group, structure distortion, alveolar septa thickening and inflammatory cells accumulation in LPS+AVT group were reduced; the levels of PaO2, PaO2/FiO2, and proteins of Nrf2 and HO-1 in lung tissues were increased (P<0.05), while W/D ratio, IL-1β and TNF-α in BALF were decreased (P<0.05).Conclusion AVT can reduce the inflammatory response in LPS-induced ALI mice, which may be related to the activation of Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. |