Regulation of NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathway attenuates the acute lung inflammation in Klebsiella pneumonia rats by mollugin treatment

Present study evaluates the protective effect of mollugin against Klebsiella pneumonia (KP) and also postulates the possible mechanism of its action. Klebsiella pneumoniae (2.4 × 108 CFU/ml) was used for the induction of KP. PMNs and WBC count was determined in the blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of Klebsiella pneumonia rat. Level of inflammatory cytokines in the blood of Klebsiella pneumonia rat was determined by ELISA methods. Moreover effect of mollugin was estimated by Western blot assay and RT-PCR method. Result of the study suggests that water content in lung was reduced in the mollugin treated group compared to pneumonia control group of rats. Count of PMNs and WBC were found to be reduced in mollugin treated group compared to pneumonia control group of rats. Level of inflammatory cytokines was also found to be reduced in the blood of mollugin treated group than pneumonia control group. Moreover treatment with mollugin attenuates the altered expression of p-MAPK, p-JNK and p-ERK protein and mRNA expression of NF-κB in the lung tissues of Klebsiella pneumonia rat. In conclusion, data of the study reveals that treatment with mollugin ameliorates Klebsiella pneumonia rat by reducing the lung inflammation. Inflammation of lung tissue was reduced by regulating the NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathway in mollugin treated group.