Changes of p38MAPK and nuclear factor-kappa B in lung tissue of acute paraquat poisoned rats

Objective To investigate NF-κB activity and the expression of phosphorylated p38MAPK protein in lung tissue of acute paraquat poisoned rats and the effect of MT.Methods One hundred and twen- ty-eight Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were randomly divided into three experimental groups:poisoned group,MT group and control group.On the 1st,the 3rd,the 7th and the 14th day after exposure,levels of malondialde- hyde(MDA)in serum were detected;NF-κB activity in the lung tissues was assessed by electrophoresis mobili- ty shift assay(EMSA);the expression of the phosphorylated p38MAPK was evaluated by Western blot method; the lung pathological changes of rats were observed.Results The level of malondialdehyde(MDA)in serum increased significantly in poisoned group on the 1st day(4.45±1.23),the 3rd day(3.77±1.12)and the 7th day (2.84±0.96)nmol/ml compared with that in control group(1.36±0.52)nmol/ml(P0.01).There was a significant decrease in MT group on the 1st day(2.68±0.85),the 3rd day(1.97±0.74)and the 7th day(1.53±0.62)nmol/ml compared with poisoned group(P0.05).The expression of the phosphorylated p38MAPK and NF-κB activity in lung tissue of poisoned group significantly increased compared with control group(P0.01).There was a sig- nificant decrease in NF-κB activity and expression of the phosphorylated p38MAPK in the lung tissues in MT group compared with poisoned group(P0.05).Conclusion NF-κB and p38MAPK could play an important role in lung injury of poisoned rats.MT may inhibit the expression of NF-κB and phosphorylated p38MAPK, and therefore might have the therapeutical effect on acute paraquat poisoning.