Protection effects of 17β-estradiol in lung injury following burn trauma via suppressed NF-κB-mediated inflammation pathways

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a leading complication in patients with extensive burns. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of 17β-estradiol in acute lung injury after burn. Male wild type C57BL/6 mice were subjected to 30% total body surface area steam burn with and without 17β-estradiol treatment. A control of animals were treated with 17β-estradiol without subjected to burn. The burned animals were sacrificed 24 h after burn injury. Lung tissue immunohistochemistry, ELIZA technique to assay plasma cytokines, tissue MCP-1, and KC levels. Lung tissue NF-kB was analyzed by immunoblot. Data showed that, 17β-estradiol significantly inhibited the NF-κB expressions in the lungs, and improved the pulmonary histologic changes induced by burn trauma, decreased the proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine in lung tissue and serum. Further, 17β-estradiol suppressed MPO activity, and reduced the MDA content in the lungs after severe burn. These results suggest that 17β-estradiol protects against ALI induced by severe burn through attenuation NF-kB- mediated inflammatory response.