Myricanol attenuates sepsis-induced inflammatory responses by nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 signaling and nuclear factor kappa B/mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway via upregulating Sirtuin 1.

Abstract

Sepsis, a life-threatening condition characterized by dysregulated immune responses, remains a significant clinical challenge. Myricanol, a natural compound, plays a variety of roles in regulating lipid metabolism, anti-cancer, anti-neurodegeneration, and it could act as an Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) activator. This study aimed to explore the therapeutic potential and underlying mechanism of myricanol in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sepsis model. In vivo studies revealed that myricanol administration significantly improved the survival rate of LPS-treated mice, effectively mitigating LPS-induced inflammatory responses in lung tissue. Furthermore, in vitro studies demonstrated that myricanol treatment inhibited the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, attenuated signal pathway activation, and reduced oxidative stress in macrophages. In addition, we demonstrated that myricanol selectively enhances SIRT1 activation in LPS-stimulated macrophages, and all of the protective effect of myricanol were reversed through SIRT1 silencing. Remarkably, the beneficial effects of myricanol against LPS-induced sepsis were abolished in SIRT1 myeloid-specific knockout mice, underpinning the critical role of SIRT1 in mediating myricanol's therapeutic efficacy. In summary, this study provides significant evidence that myricanol acts as a potent SIRT1 activator, targeting inflammatory signal pathways and oxidative stress to suppress excessive inflammatory responses. Our findings highlight the potential of myricanol as a novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of LPS-induced sepsis.