Polysaccharides extract from Vaccaria segetalis seeds inhibits kidney infection by regulating cathelicidin expression.
Mao. Xin X; Yao. Rongmei R; Guo. Hongling H; Bao. Lei L; Bao. Yanyan Y; Xu. Yingli Y; Sun. Jing J; Guo. Shanshan S; Shi. Yujing Y; Liu. Shuwen S; Zhang. Haijiang H; Cui. Xiaolan X
Key Findings
- Oral VSP dramatically reduced bacterial load in the kidneys of rats and mice infected with uropathogenic E. coli.
- VSP reversed the infection‑induced drop in cathelicidin (LL‑37/CRAMP) levels in kidney tissue.
- In cultured human kidney cells, VSP restored LL‑37 expression that had been suppressed by the bacteria.
Practical Outcomes
- For biohackers interested in urinary‑tract health, VSP looks like a promising natural way to boost innate immunity via LL‑37, but the data are limited to animals and cell lines. No human dosage, safety, or long‑term effects are known yet, so any use should be experimental and cautious, ideally after consulting a healthcare professional.
Summary
A plant seed extract (VSP) from Vaccaria segetalis can boost the body's own antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 (called CRAMP in rats) and lower kidney bacterial counts in mouse and rat models of urinary‑tract infection. The effect seems to come from turning the immune system back on rather than directly killing the bacteria.
Abstract
According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, the seeds of Vaccaria segetalis, a traditional medicinal herb, can be used for treating urinary diseases. The polysaccharides extract from V. segetalis seeds (VSP) has been shown to prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs). Investigate the effects of VSP on treating kidney infection induced by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) and the underlying mechanisms. Both in vivo and in vitro infection models were established with the UPEC strain CFT073. After oral administration of VSP, the levels of bacterial load, cathelicidin (CRAMP), Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in the kidney were evaluated. The expression of cathelicidin (LL-37) in human renal cell carcinoma cell line (A498) was tested after the treatment of VSP. In the kidneys of infection models, high-titer bacteria was detected. In the kidney of rat model, the expression of CRAMP was down-regulated, no significant change was observed in the levels of TLRs. After oral administration of VSP, the bacterial load was significantly decreased in rat and mouse models, and the levels of CRAMP and TLRs were significantly up-regulated in rat model. In vitro, the expression of LL-37 was significantly inhibited by CFT073. VSP up-regulated the expression of LL-37 in A498 cells. The up-regulation of cathelicidin expression may contribute to the therapeutic effects of VSP on kidney infection.
Study Information
pubmed
2020
2020-10-23T00:00:00.000Z
10.1016/j.jep.2020.113505
5
12