Effects of aspirin on the ERK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways in rats with acute pulmonary embolism.

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Wang L, Wu J, Zhang W, Zhi Y, Wu Y, Jiang R, Yang R

Effects of aspirin on the ERK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways in rats with acute pulmonary embolism.

Mol Med Rep. 2013 Nov;8(5):1465-71. doi: 10.3892/mmr.2013.1676. Epub 2013 Sep 10.

PubMed ID

24026640 [ View in PubMed

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Abstract

Inflammation contributes to acute pulmonary embolism (APE). However, the contributions of the extracellular signalregulated protein kinases (ERK) and phosphoinositide 3 kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathways have not yet been elucidated. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of aspirin on ERK and PI3K/Akt signaling in a rat model of APE and evaluate the prognostic values of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), troponin (TnT) and DDimer. A total of 108 SpragueDawley rats were assigned into the control, sham, model and low, medium and highdose aspirin (150, 300 and 600 mg/kg, respectively) groups. In each group, six rats were sacrificed 6, 24 and 72 h subsequent to the induction of APE to collect the lungs and serum. Western blot analysis was used to assess ERK, PI3K and Akt expression; enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to analyze BNP, TnT and DDimer levels; and changes in lung pathology were evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. The results showed that ERK and PI3K levels were decreased in the control, sham and the three aspirin groups at all timepoints compared with the model group (P<0.01). The exception was in the mediumdose aspirin group at 24 h. The serum levels of BNP, TnT and DDimer were lower in the control and sham groups at all timepoints compared with the model group (P<0.05). Furthermore, the levels of BNP, TnT and DDimer levels were decreased in the aspirintreated groups (P<0.05) and markedly increased in the model group (P<0.05) at 24 h compared with the levels at 6 h. Pulmonary embolism, alveolar wall necrosis and hemorrhage were observed in the model group 6, 24 and 72 h subsequent to the induction of the model. However, congestion and inflammation were attenuated following aspirin treatment. In conclusion, aspirin reduces lung damage and improves prognosis. Decreased ERK, PI3K and Akt expression in the lungs and reduced levels of BNP, TnT and DDimer may be important factors in the effects observed.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drug Targets

Drug	Target	Kind	Organism	Pharmacological Action	Actions
Acetylsalicylic acid	Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) (Protein Group)	Protein group	Humans	Unknown	Not Available	Details