To investigate the protective effect and underlying mechanism of Eleutheroside E (EE), derived from Acanthopanax senticosus, against γ-ray radiation-induced splenic injury.
The Cell Counting Kit-8 assay was used to determine the toxicity of the drug. Hematoxylin and eosin, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end-labeling, and live/dead cell double staining assays were used to evaluate the protective effects of EE on the spleen. Immunofluorescence, immunohistochemical, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were used to investigate the underlying mechanisms of EE. Cross-talk between the absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) inflammasome and the protein kinase A (PKA) signaling pathway was clarified using selective inhibitors.
EE reduced IR-induced splenic injury—the increased apoptosis rates and the levels of γ-H2AX and inflammatory factors in splenic cells were significantly alleviated. ELISA showed that EE reduced the level of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-18 (IL-18), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in irradiated tissues. The radioprotective effects of EE were mediated by inhibition of the AIM2 inflammasome and stimulation of PKA signaling, in which EE inhibited the increased levels of AIM2, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC), and cleaved caspase-1 proteins upon ionizing radiation damage but rescued the decreased protein levels in PKA signaling. Suppression of AIM2 signaling was dependent on the activation of PKA signaling by EE treatment.
EE exerts a significant radioprotective effect on the spleen in vitro and in vivo. Activation of the PKA signaling pathway leads to AIM2 inflammasome inhibition, thereby attenuating radiation-induced DNA damage. This was demonstrated to be the mechanism involved in the radioprotective effects of EE. Thus, EE can be used as a potential radioprotective drug in clinical practice.
| 科 Family | 属数 Number of genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) | 属 Genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 鹅膏菌科Amanitaceae | 2 | 11 | 5.26 | 鹅膏菌属 Amanita | 10 | 4.78 |
| 小菇科 Mycenaceae | 2 | 12 | 5.74 | 丝盖伞属 Inocybe | 5 | 2.39 |
| 多孔菌科 Polyporaceae | 8 | 14 | 6.70 | 蜡蘑属 Laccaria | 5 | 2.39 |
| 红菇科 Russulaceae | 3 | 23 | 11.00 | 小皮伞属 Marasmius | 6 | 2.87 |
| 小菇属 Mycena | 11 | 5.26 | ||||
| 光柄菇属 Pluteus | 5 | 2.39 | ||||
| 红菇属 Russula | 17 | 8.13 | ||||
| 栓菌属 Trametes | 5 | 2.39 |