Abstract:
Objective To explore the impacts of shikonin on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation and apoptosis of pancreatic acinar cells by regulating SOCS1/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.
Methods Rat pancreatic acinar cells AR42J were cultured in vitro, the cells were transfected with si-NC and si-SOCS1, then treated with LPS and/or high-dose shikonin. The untransfected cells were divided into Control group, LPS group, and low/medium/high-dose shikonin group (L/M/H-shikonin group) which were treated with LPS except Control, and the transfected cells were divided into si-NC group, si-SOCS1 group, H-shikonin+si-NC group and H-shikonin+si-SOCS1 group which were all treated with LPS. The expression of inflammatory factors interleukin 1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) was detected by ELISA, the cell viability was determined by CCK-8 method, the apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry, and the expression of SOCS1/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway-related proteins were analyzed by Western blotting.
Results Compared with the Control group, the levels of IL-1β, TNF-α and apoptosis rate in AR42J cells in the LPS group increased, while the OD450 value decreased (P < 0.05). Compared with the LPS group, the levels of IL-1β, TNF-α and apoptosis rate in AR42J cells in the L/M/H-shikonin group decreased, while the OD450 value increased, and which in the H-shikonin group decreased or increased more (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the SOCS1 protein level in AR42J cells in the LPS group decreased, while the p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 protein level increased (P < 0.05). Compared with the LPS group, the SOCS1 protein level in AR42J cells in the H-shikonin group increased, while the p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 proteins decreased (P < 0.05);the SOCS1 protein level in AR42J cells in the si-SOCS1group decreased, while the p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 protein level increased (P < 0.05). Compared with the H-shikonin group, the SOCS1 protein level in AR42J cells in the H-shikonin+si-SOCS1 group decreased, while the p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 protein level increased (P < 0.05).
Conclusions Shikonin can inhibit the inflammatory response and apoptosis of AR42J cells induced by LPS, and enhance cell viability, which may be achieved by regulating the SOCS1/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.