Objective  To investigate the effect of picroside Ⅱ (PIC Ⅱ) on the pyroptosis and thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP)/nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) signaling pathway in alveolar epithelial cells of severe pneumonia rats. Methods  A severe pneumonia rat model was constructed and all experimental rats were divided into a control group, a severe pneumonia group, low, medium, and high dose PIC Ⅱ groups (PIC Ⅱ-L, PIC Ⅱ-M, PIC Ⅱ-H groups), and a high-dose PIC Ⅱ+TXNIP/NLRP3 pathway activator trimethylamine oxide group (PIC Ⅱ-H+TMAO group). The levels of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were detected by ELISA; Wright’s staining was applied to detect eosinophil count (EOS), lymphocyte count (LYM), and neutrophil count (NEU) in the sediment of alveolar lavage fluid. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the pathological changes of lung tissue. The expressions of cysteine aspartate protease 1 (Caspase-1) and dermatin D (GSDMD) were detected by immunohistochemistry. The expressions of TXNIP, NLRP3 and apoptosis-associated microprotein (ASC) were detected by Western blot. Results  Compared with the control group, the severe pneumonia group had severe lung tissue injury, obvious inflammatory cell infiltration, and increased expressions of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, EOS, LYM, NEU, Caspase-1, GSDMD, TXNIP, NLRP3 and ASC (all P<0.05). Compared with the severe pneumonia group, lung tissue injury in PIC Ⅱ-L, PIC Ⅱ-M and PIC Ⅱ-H groups was reduced successively, and inflammatory cell infiltration was gradually reduced. The expressions of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, EOS, LYM, NEU, Caspase-1, GSDMD, TXNIP, NLRP3 and ASC were decreased successively (all P<0.05). Compared with the PIC Ⅱ-H group, the PIC Ⅱ-H+TMAO group showed increased lung tissue damage and obviously increased inflammatory cell infiltration, the expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, EOS, LYM, NEU, Caspase-1, GSDMD, TXNIP, NLRP3, and ASC were obviously increased (all P<0.05). Conclusion  PIC Ⅱ inhibits pyroptosis of alveolar epithelial cells in severe pneumonia rats by inhibiting the TXNIP/NLRP3 pathway.

Citation： CHEN Xu, LU Guangbing, TIAN Liangdong. Effect of picroside Ⅱ on alveolar epithelial cell pyroptosis in rats with severe pneumonia by regulating the TXNIP/NLRP3 signaling pathway. Chinese Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 2024, 23(11): 791-796. doi: 10.7507/1671-6205.202403045 Copy