Upregulation of claudin‑4 by Chinese traditional medicine Shenfu attenuates lung tissue damage by acute lung injury aggravated by acute gastrointestinal injury
Yueliang Zheng, Mian Zheng, Jing Shao, Chengxing Jiang, Jian Shen, Rujia Tao, Yuqin Deng, Yingge Xu, Yuan‐Qiang Lu
Abstract
CONTEXT: Many studies have explored new methods to cure acute lung injury (ALI); however, none of those methods could significantly change the high mortality rate of ALI. Shenfu is a Chinese traditional medicine that might be effective against ALI. OBJECTIVE: Our study explores the therapeutic potential of Shenfu in ALI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: . Male C57BL/6 mice were divided into four groups: LPS, LPS + 3% dextran sulphate sodium (DSS), 3% DSS + Shenfu, and LPS + 3% DSS + Shenfu. RESULTS: cultured epithelial cells with LPS stimulation. Mechanistically, Shenfu mediated the protective effect by upregulating claudin-4 expression. In addition, Shenfu could protect against both lung and intestinal epithelial damage in acute gastrointestinal injury-exacerbated ALI. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, the results revealed the therapeutic effect and the underlying mechanism of Shenfu injection in an ALI in mouse model, indicating its clinical potential to treat patients with ALI.