Effects of etomidate on intestinal mucosal barrier damage in burned rats by regulating the MLCK/MLC signaling pathway
YANG Xi
CHEN Jiao
ZHANG Xun
Abstract：Objective To explore the effects of etomidate(Eto)on intestinal mucosal barrier function damage and the myosin light chain kinase/myosin light chain(MLCK/MLC)signaling pathway in burned rats.Methods A burn rat model was constructed and rats were randomly separated into a Model group,low-dose and high-dose etomidate groups(Eto-L,Eto-H groups),and high-dose Eto+MLCK/MLC signaling pathway activator group(Eto-H+iE-DAP group),with 12 rats in each group.Another 12 normal rats were regarded as the Control group.After administration,the disease activity index(DAI)and colon mucosal damage index(CMDI)were scored.The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was applied to detect relative levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-6(IL-6),and interleukin-10(IL-10).The hematoxylin and eosin(H&E)staining was applied to observe and score pathological changes in colon tissue.Immunohistochemistry was applied to detect the expressions of intestinal mucosal barrier associated proteins zonula occludens-1(ZO-1)and Occludin.Western blot was applied to detect the protein expressions of MLCK and p-MLC/MLC.Results Compared with the Control group,rats in the Model group had disordered structure of the intestinal mucosal,disarrangement of mucosal epithelial cells,shedding of intestinal villi,inflammatory cell infiltration,mucosal congestion,edema,and ulcers.In comparison to the Control group,Model group had significantly higher DAI,CMDI,TNF-α and IL-6 levels,protein level of MLCK,and p-MLC/MLC,but lower IL-10 level and protein expressions of ZO-1 and Occludin(P＜0.05).Compared with the Model group,rats in the Eto-L and Eto-H groups had relatively neatly arranged intestinal mucosa,mucosal epithelial cells,complete and clear villous morphology,reduced inflammatory cell infiltration and ulcers.In comparison to the Model group,Eto-L and Eto-H groups had significantly lower DAI,CMDI,TNF-α and IL-6 levels,protein level of MLCK,and p-MLC/MLC,but higher IL-10 level and protein expressions of ZO-1 and Occludin(P＜0.05).Compared with the Eto-H group,rats in the Eto-H+iE-DAP group had more severe damage to the intestinal mucosal structure and mucosal epithelial cells,severe loss of intestinal villi,and worsened inflammatory cell infiltration and ulcers.In comparison to the Eto-H group,Eto-H+iE-DAP group had significantly higher DAI,CMDI,TNF-α and IL-6 levels,protein level of MLCK,and p-MLC/MLC,but lower IL-10 level and protein expressions of ZO-1 and Occludin(P＜0.05).Conclusion Etomidate can improve intestinal mucosal barrier function damage in burned rats by inhibiting the MLCK/MLC signaling pathway.
Keywords：etomidatemyosin light chain kinase/myosin light chain signaling pathwayburnsintestinal mucosal barrier function damage
Publication Date：2025-12-26
Online Publishing Date：2026-01-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：5( 1957-1961 )