Esketamine mitigates mechanical ventilation-induced lung injury in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease rats via inhibition of the MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway and reduction of oxidative stress.
International immunopharmacology September 30, 2024 San-Ying Cai, Ang Liu, Wen-Xi Xie et al. 13 citations
In a rat model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) receiving mechanical ventilation, esketamine reduced lung injury by dampening inflammation and oxidative stress. Rats given esketamine showed lower lung water content, reduced permeability, and decreased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8) while increasing the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. The drug also lowered markers of oxidative stress (malondialdehyde and myeloperoxidase) and raised the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase. These effects were linked to reduced activation of the MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways. Esketamine appears to protect lung tissue in ventilated COPD rats through these mechanisms.