Search Results (2,850)

Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), the progressive stage of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), is characterized by hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis, yet no specific therapy has been established. This study evaluated the therapeutic potential of Andrias davidianus liver-derived peptides (ALPs) in a mouse model of MASH. Methods: ALPs were prepared by enzymatic hydrolysis of fresh Andrias davidianus liver. A MASH model was induced in mice using a methionine- and choline-deficient diet (MRCD). ALP was administered via oral gavage, and its effects were assessed through histological staining (H&E, Oil Red O, and Sirius Red), immunofluorescence (Ki67), apoptosis detection (TUNEL), serum biochemistry, and RNA-sequencing of liver tissues. Gut microbiota composition was also analyzed. Results: ALP treatment significantly alleviated hepatic histopathological features, including steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis. It reduced aberrant proliferation and apoptosis of hepatocyte-like cells, and markedly improved serum biochemical markers of liver function. RNA-seq analysis revealed that ALP modulated the expression of lipid metabolism-related genes, an effect associated with suppression of the PPARγ signaling pathway. Furthermore, ALP selectively modulated MRCD-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis, particularly by reducing the Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidota (F/B) ratio and enriching Akkermansia. No overt toxicity was observed in other organs. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that ALP exerts protective effects against MASH by improving lipid metabolism, partially through suppression of the PPARγ signaling pathway, and by selectively modulating specific gut microbial taxa. ALP represents a promising natural therapeutic candidate for MASH. Full article

Background: Testicular germ cell tumors are usually highly responsive to platinum-based treatment. However, outcomes remain heterogeneous. This exploratory retrospective study assessed factors associated with first-line progression-free survival and with the need for second-line systemic therapy. Methods: We reviewed 41 patients treated for testicular germ cell tumors at a single oncology center. Clinical, pathological, metastatic, treatment-related, and biochemical variables were extracted from medical records. First-line progression-free survival was evaluated using exploratory univariable Cox regression. Variables associated with second-line treatment were assessed using exploratory univariable analyses. Results: The median age was 37 years and most of the patients had non-seminomatous histology. A greater mean decline of initially elevated serum markers after the first chemotherapy cycle was associated with longer first-line progression-free survival in both the overall cohort and the non-seminomatous subgroup. The need for second-line systemic treatment was associated with stage III disease, metastasis at diagnosis, and elevated baseline serum tumor markers. Conclusions: In this cohort, baseline disease burden and marker elevation were the clearest adverse clinical signals. Moreover, early marker decline may add information about treatment sensitivity and tailor follow-up. Full article

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory, autoimmune, and neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system. Our study aimed to examine the relationship between serum iron levels and the following clinical parameters: depression, anxiety, fatigue, neuropathic pain, and disease activity on magnetic resonance imaging in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Material and methods: This study was designed as a clinical observational, cross-sectional study. This study was conducted at the Clinic of Neurology of the University Clinical Center Kragujevac, from 2022 to 2024, according to the ethical code of the Declaration of Helsinki. Demographic and clinical data on patients were obtained from the medical history. All MS patients were diagnosed according to the McDonald criteria (2017). This study included 65 patients in the experimental group and 11 healthy individuals in the control group, with an average age of 39.68 years. Serum iron levels were biochemically analyzed from venous blood. The following standardized tests were used to collect data on depression, anxiety, fatigue, and neuropathic pain: Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS), PainDETECT Questionnaire (PD-Q), and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Results: Serum iron level significantly correlates with disease activity on magnetic resonance imaging in patients with multiple sclerosis. Serum iron showed a moderate positive correlation with hemoglobin, hematocrit, total and direct bilirubin, and a weak positive correlation with uric acid, while a moderate negative correlation was observed with erythrocyte sedimentation rate. No statistically significant difference was found between serum iron levels and depression, anxiety, fatigue, and severity of neuropathic pain. The ROC curves show the diagnostic potential of the combined parameters in differentiating RRMS from controls, as well as the potential of iron in differentiating active from inactive MS. The presence of disease, hemoglobin and total bilirubin were recorded as significant independent predictors. Conclusion: This study is a descriptive attempt to present the potential role of iron in the radiological activity of the disease. High serum iron level may be associated with radiological disease activity in patients with multiple sclerosis. Full article

Background/Objectives: MGUS and smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) are precursor states of plasma cell disorders with variable risk of progression to multiple myeloma (MM). Yet, current risk stratification models combine clinical and laboratory parameters, including invasive bone marrow assessment, but have limited precision. Methods: We applied free light chain (FLC)-monomer (M)–dimer (D) pattern analysis (FLC-MDPA), a non-invasive Western blot–based serum assay, to detect abnormal FLC M–D patterns associated with early malignant transformation, for predicting progression in MGUS (n = 68) and SMM (n = 40). Among 96 patients with complete data, 50 formed a training set to define criteria for progressive disease and 46 comprised a validation set. Results: FLC-MDPA predicted biochemical progression (sensitivity 0.79, specificity 0.92, NPV 0.86; HR 19.96, 95% CI 4.31–92) and clinical progression (sensitivity 0.84, specificity 0.79; HR 13.5, 95% CI 3.68–49.64), with significantly higher progression rates in patients with abnormal patterns (p < 0.0001). Within this high-risk cohort, FLC-MDPA was associated with higher hazard ratios for both biochemical and clinical progression compared with the 2/20/20 model, while incorporation into a modified 2/20/MDPA model improved sensitivity and negative predictive value. In a multivariable model including MDPA and FLC ratio, MDPA was independently associated with both clinical (p = 0.001) and biochemical progression (p = 0.04). Conclusions: These findings suggest that FLC-MDPA is a promising non-invasive tool for risk stratification in MGUS and SMM, improving sensitivity and negative predictive value while potentially reducing reliance on bone marrow–based assessment. Full article

Objective: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a relapsing inflammatory disorder of the colon in which persistent mucosal injury, oxidative stress, and defective healing processes contribute to disease progression. Given the need for alternative therapeutic strategies, this study evaluated the efficacy of intrarectal quince gel in an experimental UC model using an integrated approach that combined biochemical assays, histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations, bioinformatic analyses, and molecular docking. Methods: A total of 28 male Wistar albino rats were randomly allocated to one of four experimental groups: Sham, Quince Gel, UC, and UC + Quince Gel (n = 7/group). UC was induced by intrarectal administration of 4% acetic acid, followed by daily intrarectal quince gel treatment for 10 days. To determine the therapeutic effects of quince gel, macroscopic and histopathological changes, colon mass index, oxidative stress indicators (TAS, TOS, OSI, and MDA), serum biochemical parameters, and inflammatory mediators, including TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, were evaluated. TGF-β and FGF expression levels were assessed by immunohistochemistry and quantified using QuPath software (version 0.7.0). The phytochemical composition of quince gel was characterized by LC–MS/MS analysis, while protein–protein interaction network analysis and molecular docking were performed to investigate the potential molecular mechanisms underlying its biological effects. Results: Quince gel significantly alleviated acetic acid-induced colonic injury by reducing macroscopic damage scores, histopathological injury, and colon mass index. Treatment restored oxidative balance by increasing total antioxidant status while decreasing total oxidant status, oxidative stress index, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. In addition, serum LDH, CRP, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels were markedly reduced compared with the untreated UC group. Histological examination demonstrated preservation of epithelial integrity, reduced inflammatory cell infiltration, and improved mucosal architecture. Quantitative immunohistochemical analysis showed significant attenuation of TGF-β and FGF overexpression following quince gel treatment. LC–MS/MS identified quercetin as a major bioactive constituent of the gel. Bioinformatic analysis revealed TGFB1, STAT3, and MMP9 as central hub proteins within the UC-associated interaction network, whereas molecular docking demonstrated the strongest binding affinity of quercetin toward TNF-α (−7.379 kcal/mol), supporting its potential anti-inflammatory mechanism. Conclusions: Quince gel exerts significant anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and mucosal regenerative effects in experimental UC. The integration of histopathological, immunohistochemical, phytochemical, bioinformatic, and molecular docking findings suggests that quince gel may protect colonic tissue through coordinated modulation of oxidative stress, inflammatory cytokines, and tissue repair pathways. These findings support its potential as a promising complementary therapeutic strategy for UC. Full article

Background: Blood-accessible biomarkers may support future personalization of prostate cancer radiotherapy, but their interpretation depends on sampling timing relative to radiotherapy, androgen deprivation therapy, and post-treatment recovery. We mapped clinical evidence for selected biomarker domains beyond prostate-specific antigen: γ-H2AX/DNA damage response, IL-6/inflammatory mediators, testosterone/endocrine recovery and a prespecified galectin-1/3 immune–stromal domain evaluated as a potential evidence gap. Methods: We conducted a PRISMA-ScR scoping review of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science searched on 7 January 2026. Eligible original human studies evaluated soluble serum/plasma analytes or peripheral blood cell-based assays in prostate RT pathways. Data were charted by biomarker domain, treatment context, RT modality/fractionation, assay reporting, sampling schedule, and endpoint linkage. Results: Of 3499 records, 45 studies were included. No eligible study reported repeated circulating galectin-1/3 kinetics anchored to prostate radiotherapy, identifying a distinct clinical evidence gap. The remaining evidence was dominated by testosterone studies (n = 28), followed by IL-6/inflammatory mediators (n = 12) and γ-H2AX/DDR (n = 5). Testosterone studies were mapped as separate RT-only endocrine kinetics and ADT-anchored recovery streams. IL-6 studies mainly used during-RT or early post-RT sampling and linked trajectories to acute toxicity, fatigue, symptoms or inflammatory phenotypes; no included study directly validated serial IL-6/inflammatory trajectories against biochemical control, metastasis-free survival, or overall survival. γ-H2AX studies were characterized by ultra-acute, fraction-anchored sampling. Across domains, baseline definition and sampling timing limited interpretability more than assay platform alone. Conclusions: Evidence maturity was unequal across the selected domains. Testosterone provided the comparatively more developed longitudinal clinical literature, whereas IL-6/inflammatory mediators remained exploratory and were linked mainly to acute toxicity, fatigue, symptoms, and inflammatory phenotypes. γ-H2AX remained predominantly a translational and biodosimetry-oriented marker, while galectin-1/3 represented a hypothesis-generating clinical evidence gap. None of these biomarkers currently supports routine biomarker-guided prostate RT personalization. Future biomarker-embedded studies may benefit from domain-specific sampling considerations, explicit RT/systemic-therapy context stratification, standardized assay reporting, and clinically relevant endpoints. Full article

The search for sustainable alternatives to fish oil (FO) in aquafeeds is imperative for the long-term sustainability of aquaculture. This study evaluated the effects of partially replacing FO with oils derived from Hermetia illucens (RH) and Musca domestica (RY) larvae at 10%, 30%, and 50% levels on growth, lipid metabolism, hepatic antioxidant capacity, and gut microbiota in juvenile Cyprinus carpio. Results showed distinct source- and dose-dependent responses. RY produced a consistent dose-dependent trend in growth parameters, whereas RH exhibited a biphasic pattern, with growth impairment at 30% replacement and recovery at 50%. Both oils significantly suppressed hepatic fatty acid synthase (FAS) activity, yet this suppression was accompanied by dose-dependent up-regulation of fas expression, particularly at high RH and RY levels, indicating complex post-transcriptional regulation. RH at higher replacement levels reduced digestive enzyme activities and antioxidant capacity, while higher RY caused minimal disruption. Both oils reshaped gut microbiota toward oil-specific community structures. Two-way ANOVA revealed significant synergistic interactions between oil source and replacement level for most serum biochemical and hepatic antioxidant parameters (ηp² > 0.90). These findings demonstrate that RY is a tolerable alternative across a wide replacement range, though all RY groups exhibited lower growth than the control, 30% is identified as the maximum tolerable level; whereas RH requires precise dosing at 10% to avoid the 30% impairment threshold. Full article

Obesity is a global metabolic disease closely associated with dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, hepatic steatosis, and chronic oxidative stress. Cydonia oblonga Miller (COM, Quince) from Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China is a traditional medicinal and edible plant rich in polyphenols, flavonoids, polysaccharides, and other bioactive constituents. Our previous studies suggested that total polyphenols of Cydonia oblonga Miller (TPCOM) may exert promising anti-obesity effects. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of TPCOM on high-fat diet-induced obese C57BL/6 mice and to explore its underlying molecular mechanisms related to glycolipid metabolism. Methods: TPCOM was extracted and purified from Xinjiang Cydonia oblonga fruits, and its total polyphenol content was determined using the Folin–Ciocalteu method. C57 mice were randomly divided into normal diet, model, and TPCOM intervention groups. After 12 weeks of high-fat diet feeding and 6 weeks of TPCOM treatment, body weight was monitored continuously. Serum levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) were measured using commercial kits. Hepatic pathological changes were observed by hematoxylin–eosin (HE) staining. Bioinformatics analyses including GO and KEGG were performed to predict key targets and pathways related to lipid metabolism. The protein expression levels of PPARGC1A, FFAR1, KLF15, Adipolin, GLUT4, and phosphorylated p38 MAPK in liver tissues were detected by Western blotting. Results: TPCOM intervention significantly reduced body weight gain in obese mice in a dose-dependent manner. Serum biochemical assays showed that TPCOM decreased TC, TG, and LDL-C levels, increased HDL-C levels, and markedly enhanced total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC). Bioinformatics analysis suggested that PPARG and FFAR1 were highly expressed in liver tissue and may participate in glucose and lipid metabolism regulation. Western blot results confirmed that TPCOM significantly upregulated the expression of PPARGC1A, FFAR1, KLF15, Adipolin, GLUT4, and phosphorylated p38 MAPK in the liver of obese mice. Conclusions: TPCOM effectively ameliorates obesity, dyslipidemia, hepatic steatosis, and oxidative stress in high-fat diet-induced obese mice. The underlying mechanism may be related to the regulation of glycolipid metabolism, mitochondrial function, insulin sensitivity, and antioxidant signaling via activating the FFAR1–PPARG–p38 MAPK axis and downstream targets including PPARGC1A, KLF15, Adipolin, and GLUT4. This study provides a scientific basis and theoretical support for the development and application of TPCOM as a natural functional ingredient in the prevention and adjuvant treatment of obesity and related metabolic disorders. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of dietary Zanthoxylum armatum DC. ‘Jiuyeqing’ leaf extract (ZBLE) in laying hens. A total of 1024 healthy 41-week-old Lohmann Pink layers were assigned to four treatments with eight replicates of 32 hens and fed diets containing 0, 2, 4, or 6 g ZBLE/kg for 8 weeks. The results showed that laying rate significantly increased linearly during weeks 1–4 and 1–8 (p = 0.009 and 0.005, respectively), and the 6 g/kg group had a higher laying rate than the control group (CON) over weeks 1–8 (p = 0.026). Yolk color score increased (p < 0.001), and serum immunoglobulin M concentration increased significantly (p = 0.007), whereas serum biochemical parameters remained unchanged. Serum total antioxidant capacity and total superoxide dismutase activity and hepatic total antioxidant capacity and catalase activity increased significantly, whereas serum malondialdehyde decreased. Intestinal responses were segment-specific, with increased duodenal villus height, alongside greater jejunal crypt depth and a lower jejunal villus-to-crypt ratio at 6 g/kg. Hepatic metabolomic comparison between the CON and 6 g/kg groups indicated that glycerophospholipid metabolism was the most strongly enriched pathway. Overall, 6 g ZBLE/kg produced the most favorable response among the tested levels and may serve as a plant-based feed additive for laying hens. Full article

Objective: Axonal injury is a key determinant in irreversible disability in multiple sclerosis (MS). Reliable biomarkers of neuroaxonal damage are essential for improving diagnosis, monitoring disease progression, and evaluating treatment response. This study investigated the relationship between phosphorylated neurofilament heavy chain (pNF-H), clinical characteristics, and conventional cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum biomarkers in Algerian patients with MS. Methods: A total of 102 participants were enrolled. Clinical, immunological, and biochemical parameters were assessed, including the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), oligoclonal bands (OCBs), IgG index, albumin quotient, and pNF-H concentrations in paired CSF and serum samples. Results: OCBs were detected in 85.5% of patients, and 65.21% exhibited intrathecal immunoglobulin synthesis, with a median IgG index of 0.87. Patients with progressive MS were significantly older and more disabled than those with relapsing–remitting MS (age: p = 0.01; EDSS: p = 0.0007). OCB-positive patients had significantly higher IgG index values (p = 0.0004), but OCB status was not associated with age, EDSS, or albumin quotient. EDSS correlated positively with age (p = 0.0007), albumin quotient (p = 0.01), and IgG index (p = 0.001). Both CSF and serum pNF-H levels were significantly elevated in MS patients compared with NSDs group (p < 0.001). Increased pNF-H concentrations were associated with progressive disease and greater disability (EDSS ≥ 5). Conclusions: Elevated pNF-H levels in CSF and serum are associated with disease severity and progressive MS, supporting their potential as complementary biomarkers of neuroaxonal damage and clinical disability in routine MS assessment. Full article

Aging is driven by progressive epigenetic alterations—DNA methylation drift, aberrant histone modifications, chromatin remodeling, and non-coding RNA dysregulation. Vitamin D, acting through its nuclear receptor vitamin D receptor (VDR), modulates the epigenetic landscape to potentially counteract these age-related changes. This review first describes age-related epigenetic alterations, then outlines vitamin D signaling and its interface with the epigenetic machinery. Next, tissue-specific epigenetic actions of vitamin D in the immune, musculoskeletal, and nervous systems are discussed. Finally, clinical trial evidence is examined, interindividual variability is highlighted, and future research directions are proposed. However, large randomized controlled trials (RCTs) consistently show limited benefits of vitamin D monotherapy, with measurable anti-aging effects observed when combined with exercise and nutritional interventions. Its efficacy is constrained by interindividual variability, J-shaped dose–response, and tissue-specific barriers. For deficient individuals (serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) < 50 nmol/L), guided supplementation—typically 800–2000 international units (IU)/day—is warranted to achieve tentative target serum concentrations of 75–125 nmol/L, the range linked to favorable epigenetic and immune effects. For those already sufficient (e.g., serum 25(OH)D ≥ 50 nmol/L), indiscriminate supplementation without biochemical indication is not supported. Therefore, promoting healthy aging through vitamin D requires serum-monitored, individually titrated, and multimodal regimens, with supplementation reserved primarily for documented deficiency and integrated with lifestyle interventions. Full article

In ovo supplementation of bioactive substances represents an effective nutritional intervention for enhancing broiler development from the embryonic stage through market age. This study investigates the impact of injecting graded levels of in ovo BGB on the physiological and developmental trajectories of broiler chicks. The investigation spans from embryonic development to a 35-day post-hatch period, assessing hatchability characteristics, chick quality, physiological indices, and growth performance. Based on the results, BGB improved chick quality at hatch by increasing body weight (p = 0.0484), Pasgar score (p = 0.0296), and several blood biochemical indicators, such as serum protein (p = 0.0005) and thyroid hormone concentrations (T3, p = 0.0001), while reducing blood glucose levels (p = 0.0180). Most notably, BGB promoted substantial improvements in intestinal morphology, including greater villus height (p = 0.0001), villus surface area (p = 0.0001), and villus-to-crypt ratio (p = 0.0020), indicating enhanced digestive and absorptive capacity. These physiological and intestinal benefits translated into superior post-hatch growth performance, characterized by higher body weight gain (p = 0.0001) and improved feed conversion efficiency (p = 0.0001). Notably, dressing percentage was significantly affected by a quadratic response (p = 0.0448), where the 0.30% BGB concentration yielded the highest dressing yield (81.1%). Furthermore, humoral immunity was strongly enhanced; immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels demonstrated a highly significant quadratic response (p = 0.0004), maximizing at 11.23 mg/mL in the 0.30% BGB group. Overall, the findings demonstrate that in ovo BGB administration, particularly at the 0.30% level, acts as a powerful developmental programming strategy that supports intestinal maturation, metabolic function, immune response, carcass traits, and long-term growth performance in broiler chickens. Full article

In dogs, acute pancreatitis (AP) is frequently associated with systemic inflammation and renal dysfunction, both of which may adversely affect outcomes. This retrospective cohort study evaluated the prognostic utility of the creatinine-to-albumin ratio (CAR), neutrophil–creatinine index (NCI), and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) for predicting in-hospital mortality. One hundred and thirty-four dogs diagnosed with AP and forty healthy controls were included. All indices were calculated from routine hematological and biochemical data obtained at admission before treatment initiation. Prognostic performance was assessed using logistic regression, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, and comparison of ROC curves using the DeLong test. The results showed that all indices were significantly higher in dogs with AP than in healthy controls and were further increased in non-survivors. The mortality prevalence increased significantly across CAR and NCI percentiles, whereas no consistent association was observed for the NLR. CAR (AUC = 0.747, cutoff > 0.48, OR = 5.63) and NCI (AUC = 0.747, cutoff > 26, OR = 7.08) showed the highest discriminatory ability, followed by serum creatinine (AUC = 0.734, cutoff > 1.19 mg/dL, OR = 6.08). A ROC curve comparison revealed no significant differences between creatinine and CAR (p = 0.479), creatinine and NCI (p = 0.712), or CAR and NCI (p = 0.982). However, the NCI demonstrated significantly greater discriminatory performance than the NLR (AUC = 0.619; p = 0.021). In multivariable analyses, CAR and NCI remained independently associated with the outcome after adjustment for the NLR. These findings suggest that CAR and NCI may provide useful prognostic information in dogs with acute pancreatitis. Because they are derived from routinely available laboratory parameters, they may represent practical tools for early risk stratification at hospital admission. Full article

Sargassum muticum is an invasive brown macroalga that has rapidly expanded along the Moroccan Atlantic coast, posing ecological challenges while representing an abundant marine biomass with potential biotechnological value. This study investigated the biochemical composition and metabolic properties of Moroccan S. muticum through compositional analysis, in vivo metabolic evaluation, and molecular docking. Proximate analysis revealed a carbohydrate-rich composition with moderate protein content, together with photosynthetic pigments and nutritionally relevant minerals. In a cafeteria diet-induced rat model, dietary supplementation with S. muticum significantly attenuated body weight gain, improved adiposity-related indices, reduced serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and C-reactive protein levels, and increased HDL cholesterol. To obtain mechanistic insight, molecular docking analysis was performed using representative phlorotannins reported from Sargassum species. Among the compounds evaluated, dieckol showed the highest docking scores toward key metabolic targets, including AMP-activated protein kinase and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma. Although these in silico findings do not demonstrate biological activation, they provide preliminary mechanistic support for the observed in vivo effects. Overall, the results highlight the potential of S. muticum for sustainable valorization as a functional marine bioresource. Full article

Background: Sepsis is a life-threatening systemic condition characterized by organ dysfunction resulting from a dysregulated host response to infection. This study aimed to investigate the protective role of juglone (5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone), a naturally occurring compound, on lung tissue in a cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis model. Methods: Male Wistar-albino rats were used to establish the model, and juglone was administered intraperitoneally at doses of 1, 2, and 3 mg/kg. Lung and serum samples were collected for biochemical, molecular, and histological analyses through ELISA, RT-PCR, Western blot, and histopathological examinations. Results: In the sepsis group, the levels of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18) and pyroptosis-related markers (NLRP3, caspase-1, GSDMD) were significantly elevated, while juglone pretreatment markedly reduced these parameters in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, juglone upregulated the Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidant pathway while downregulating Keap1 expression. RT-PCR analysis revealed that juglone suppressed the expression of pro-apoptotic genes (caspase-3, caspase-9, Bax) and enhanced anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 expression. Histopathological evaluation demonstrated that juglone alleviated inflammatory cell infiltration, septal thickening, and hemorrhage in lung tissue. Conclusions: These findings suggest that juglone is associated with protection against sepsis-induced lung injury and with changes in oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and pyroptosis pathways. Therefore, juglone may have protective potential against sepsis-induced pulmonary damage. Full article