Imperatorin alleviates chronic endometrial inflammation by inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammatory pathway in rats

SHAO Ruifeng; WANG Ying; ZEGN Li; HE Chihua

doi:10.13431/j.cnki.immunol.j.20230112

Abstract：This study was designed to explore the treatment effect of imperatorin(Imp)on chronic endometritis(CE)and the possible mechanism.A rat model of CE was established by injecting phenol gel into the ovary and was grouped into CE group,Imp low dose group(ImpL group,5 mg∙kg-1∙d-1),Imp high dose group(ImppH group,10 mg∙kg-1∙d-1),and ImpH+lipopolysaccharide(LPS,10 mg/kg)groups,while sham-treated rats were grouped as control group(CT group).Uterine organ index of all groups were measured;hematoxylin eosin(HE)staining was applied to observe the pathological changes of uterine tissue;immunohistochemistry was applied to detect the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)in the endometrium;ELISA was used to measure the levels of serum IL-6 and TNF-α;RT-qPCR and Western blot were applied to verify the expression of IL-1β,nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB),NOD-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3),and matrix metalloproteinase(MMP)-9 in uterine tissue.Compared with the CT group,the uterus and vagina of the CE group were swollen and congested,and the expression of VEGF in the endometrium was decreased(P<0.05),the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in serum and the expressions of IL-1β,p-NF-κB/NF-κB,NLRP3,and MMP-9 in uterine tissue were increased(P<0.05).Imp could reverse these pathological changes mentioned above in CE model,while LPS was able to partially suppress the improvement effect of ImpH on CE rats.In conclusion,Imp may have a certain therapeutic effect on CE by inhibiting the activation of NLRP3 inflammatory pathway.