2. Academic Validation
  3. Swertianolin regulates immunosuppression of myeloid suppressor cells in septic mice by inhibiting NF-κB and P38 signaling

Swertianolin regulates immunosuppression of myeloid suppressor cells in septic mice by inhibiting NF-κB and P38 signaling

  • Transpl Immunol. 2025 May:90:102217. doi: 10.1016/j.trim.2025.102217.
Haoran Tang 1,  Chen Liao 1,  Lingling Wang 2,  Wei Fang 3,  Ning Tang 4,  Linjun Wan 5,  Zongfang Ren 6
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.
  • 2 Department of Medical Intensive Care Unit, General Hospital of Southern Theater Command of PLA, Guangzhou, China.
  • 3 Department of Medical Intensive Care Unit, CiHui Hospital, Guangzhou, China.
  • 4 Department of Neurology, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China.
  • 5 Department of Critical Care Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China. Electronic address: wanlj2003@163.com.
  • 6 Department of Critical Care Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China. Electronic address: zfrenkunming@163.com.
PMID: 40107628 DOI: 10.1016/j.trim.2025.102217
Abstract

Background: Swertianolin is one of the main components of Gentianaceae Swertia Plants, a traditional Chinese medicine used for the treatment of Infection, fever, viral hepatitis, and pneumonia. An expansion of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) contributes to sepsis induced immunosuppression. We investigated the mechanism by which Swertianolin regulates MDSCs in a mouse model of sepsis.

Methods: Severe sepsis was induced in mice using caecal ligation and puncture. These mice received an intraperitoneal injection of Swertianolin. MDSCs were isolated and analyzed by flow cytometry; serum concentrations of immunosuppressive factors were detected by ELISA; and mitogen-activated protein kinase and nuclear factor-κB (NFκB) were detected by Western blots.

Results: We found that Swertianolin reduced the number of MDSCs in the marrow and the spleen while increased the number of CD4+ T cells in the spleen of mice with sepsis in comparison to controls (p < 0.05). Swertianolin reduced lung damage and improved the survival rate in mice with secondary Infection of Legionella pneumophila (p < 0.05). Swertianolin inhibited the phosphorylation of p38 and nuclear translocation of p65 in MDSCs (p < 0.05), leading to decreased production of IL-10 and nitric oxide (both p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Swertianolin may improve immunosuppressive function of MDSCs and increased T cell activity by inhibiting p38 phosphorylation and NF-κB activation.

Keywords

Immunosuppression; Myeloid-derived suppressor cell; NF-κB; Sepsis; Swertianolin.

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