title: Baicalin improves survival in a murine model of polymicrobial sepsis via suppressing inflammatory response and lymphocyte apoptosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An imbalance between overwhelming inflammation and lymphocyte apoptosis is the main cause of high mortality in patients with sepsis. Baicalin, the main active ingredient of the Scutellaria root, exerts anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and even antibacterial properties in inflammatory and infectious diseases. However, the therapeutic effect of baicalin on polymicrobial sepsis remains unknown.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Polymicrobial sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) in C57BL/6 mice. Mice were infused with baicalin intraperitoneally at 1 h, 6 h and 12 h after CLP. Survival rates were assessed over the subsequent 8 days. Bacterial burdens in blood and peritoneal cavity were calculated to assess the bacterial clearance. Neutrophil count in peritoneal lavage fluid was also calculated. Injuries to the lung and liver were detected by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Levels of cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10 and IL-17, in blood and peritoneum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Adaptive immune function was assessed by apoptosis of lymphocytes in the thymus and counts of different cell types in the spleen. Baicalin significantly enhanced bacterial clearance and improved survival of septic mice. The number of neutrophils in peritoneal lavage fluid was reduced by baicalin. Less neutrophil infiltration of the lung and liver in baicalin-treated mice was associated with attenuated injuries to these organs. Baicalin significantly reduced the levels of proinflammatory cytokines but increased the level of anti-inflammatory cytokine in blood and peritoneum. Apoptosis of CD3(+) T cell was inhibited in the thymus. The numbers of CD4(+), CD8(+) T lymphocytes and dendritic cells (DCs) were higher, while the number of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells was lower in the baicalin group compared with the CLP group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Baicalin improves survival of mice with polymicrobial sepsis, and this may be attributed to its antibacterial property as well as its anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Jiali
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Jiafeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Lulong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bo
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jingsheng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lou
authors.forename: Xiaohua
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.forename: Youping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xiaoming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Jinbao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018805:Sepsis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D016207:Cytokines; D005419:Flavonoids; C038044:baicalin