Fasudil alleviates LPS-induced lung injury by restoring aquaporin 5 expression and inhibiting inflammation in lungs

Fasudil, a selective rho kinase (ROCK) inhibitor, has been reported to play a beneficial role in systemic inflammation in acute lung injury, but its mechanism for ameliorating pulmonary edema and inflammation remains unclear. Using hematoxylin-and-eosin (H&E) staining, immunohistochemistry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, quantitative real time PCR and Western blotting, we found that fasudil attenuated LPS-induced lung injury, decreased lung edema, and suppressed inflammatory responses including leukocyte infiltration and IL-6 production. Further, fasudil upregulated LPS-induced aquaporin 5 reduction and inhibited NF-kB activation in the lungs of mice. Our results suggest that fasudil could restore the expression of aquaporin 5 to eliminate LPS-induced lung edema and prevent LPS-induced pulmonary inflammation by blocking the inflammatory pathway. Collectively, blockade of the ROCK pathway by fasudil may be a potential strategy for the treatment of acute lung injury.