Astragaloside IV inhibits inflammation caused by influenza virus via
ROS/NLRP3/Caspase-1 signaling pathway
Abstract
Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) is the most active monomer in the traditional
Chinese herbal medicine Radix Astragali, which has a wide range of
antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fibrosis pharmacological effects,
and shows protective effect in acute lung injury. This study utilized
the immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, ELISA, RT-qPCR, Western blot and
Hematoxylin and eosin(H&E) staining methods to investigate the
mechanism of AS-IV in reducing viral pneumonia caused by influenza A
virus (IAV) in A549 cells and BALB/c mice. The results showed that AS-IV
suppressed ROS production in influenza virus-infected A549 cells in a
dose-dependent manner, and subsequently inhibited the activation of
NLRP3 inflammasome and Caspase-1, decreased IL-1β and IL-18 secretion.
In BALB/c mice infected with Poly (I: C), oral administration of AS-IV
can significantly reduce Poly (I: C)-induced acute pneumonia and lung
pathological injury. Which provides a new therapeutic strategy for
influenza virus infection.