Diferuloylmethane inhibits neutrophil infiltration and improves survival of mice in high-dose endotoxin shock

Gram-negative septic shock is a systemic inflammatory response of the body caused primarily by the cell wall component (lipopolysaccharide) of the gram-negative bacteria. During high-dose endotoxin shock, neutrophils infiltrate and accumulate in the liver, causing hepatocellular injury. Cell adhesion molecules, specifically intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), play an important role in the infiltration of neutrophils in the liver tissue. In this study, we demonstrate that diferuloylmethane exerts protective effect in high-dose endotoxin shock by improving survival and reducing the severity of endotoxin shock symptoms such as lethargy, diarrhea, and watery eyes following a challenge with lipopolysaccharide. We demonstrate here that diferuloylmethane inhibits the transmigration and infiltration of neutrophils from blood vessels to the underlying liver tissue and, hence, inhibits the damage to the tissue. Diferuloylmethane blocks the induced expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in liver and lungs. Diferuloylmethane, being a natural compound, may have few side effects and may be useful in attenuating multiple organ injury in pathological conditions arising due to excessive infiltration of neutrophils into the tissues.