Efficacy of Quercetin as a potent sensitizer of β2-AR in combating the impairment of fluid clearance in lungs of rats under hypoxia.

BACKGROUND

Hypoxia reportedly increases free radical generation in the body, causing oxidative stress and inhibiting β2-AR signaling. The present study correlates the prophylactic potential of quercetin and salbutamol in ameliorating fluid clearing capacity of lungs by re-sensitizing β2-AR signaling under hypoxia.

METHODS

Male SD rats supplemented orally with quercetin (50 mg/Kg BW), and salbutamol (2 mg/Kg BW) were exposed to hypobaric hypoxia at 7620 m for 6 h. Western blotting and ELISA quantitated NFĸB and related genes and GPCR pathway proteins. The binding affinities of drugs with receptor were determined by SPR spectroscopy and further confirmed insilico.

RESULTS

Quercetin and salbutamol pre-treatment significantly up-regulated the expressions of β2-AR, GPR-1, GPR-10, GCSα, cAMP content, and down-regulated GRK-2, β-arrestin, ROS, NFκB (p < 0.001), thus, enhancing alveolar fluid clearance (AFC). SPR and insilico findings revealed a higher binding affinity of β2-AR with quercetin over salbutamol.

CONCLUSION

Results indicated quercetin to be a better prophylactic that augmented AFC in rats exposed to hypoxia by attenuating inflammation and stimulating β2-AR.