Carbon dots up-regulate heme oxygenase-1 expression towards acute lung injury therapy

J Mater Chem B. 2021 Nov 10;9(43):9005-9011. doi: 10.1039/d1tb01283e.

Abstract

Pneumonia is a kind of inflammation, which can cause high morbidity and mortality, and the treatment of pneumonia has received widespread attention. Heme oxygenase-1 (HMOX1) is a cell protective enzyme and can generate an anti-inflammatory response. Here, we demonstrate that degradable carbon dots (from L-ascorbic acid, CDs-1) can up-regulate the expression of HMOX1 in animal cells and tissues, which has a therapeutic effect on LPS-induced acute lung injury in mice. It was confirmed from in vitro experiments that CDs-1 could significantly up-regulate the expression of mRNA and the protein of HMOX1, which can increase the expression of HMOX1 by 5 times in a short time, decreasing the reactive oxygen species level in a cellular inflammation model induced by LPS. Furthermore, a series of in vivo comparative experiments show that CDs-1 could effectively treat acute lung injury and improve the survival rate of mice to 80%. Our work provides a practical way for the treatment of acute inflammation and the promising application of CDs in anti-inflammation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acute Lung Injury / chemically induced
  • Acute Lung Injury / drug therapy*
  • Acute Lung Injury / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Ascorbic Acid / chemistry
  • Ascorbic Acid / pharmacology*
  • Carbon / chemistry
  • Carbon / pharmacology*
  • Female
  • Heme Oxygenase-1 / genetics
  • Heme Oxygenase-1 / metabolism*
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Particle Size
  • Quantum Dots / chemistry*
  • RAW 264.7 Cells
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Surface Properties
  • Up-Regulation / drug effects*

Substances

  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Carbon
  • Heme Oxygenase-1
  • Hmox1 protein, mouse
  • Ascorbic Acid