3.9 Itaconic acid inhibitor citraconate reverses the
anti-inflammatory effect of Tube
The spleen in the model group was significantly more congested, darker
in color, and blunted at the rim than the control group, suggesting
splenic hyperfunction of the spleen LPS induction (Figure 14 ).
Compared with the model group, the Tube group showed less spleen
congestion and relatively lighter color; the overall appearance was
similar to that of the control
group. Splenic congestion in the
inhibitor group was similar to that in the model group and more
pronounced than in the Tube group, suggesting that the inhibitor
citraconate reduced the protective effect of Tube on the spleen.
RT-PCR experiments showed that IL-1β, IL-6, and iNOS mRNA expression
levels were significantly lower in the Tube group than the LPS group,
suggesting that Tube inhibited the transcription of IL-1β, IL-6 and iNOS
mRNA (Figure 15 ). IL-1β and IL-6 mRNA levels were higher after
the use of itaconic acid inhibitor citraconate in the Tube+ inhibitor
group comparied with the Tube group, suggesting that citraconate
decreases the inhibitory effect of Tube on inflammatory factor
transcription.