Figure 2

(A-E) The effects of AMPK activator metformin or GSK3β inhibitor SB216763 on the severity of lung inflammation in mice subjected to CLP-induced sepsis. (A) Images show lung sections obtained of control or mice treated with metformin or GSK3β inhibitor SB216763 following CLP. Bars: 1,000 µm (upper panel) or 100 µm (lower panel). Arrows indicate spaces filled with a mixed mononuclear/neutrophilic infiltrate, cellular debris and proteinaceous material. Alveolar walls are also thickened, and the septa are edematous. (B) and (C) show the ability of metformin or SB216763 to diminish the amount of BAL neutrophils and to reduce lung permeability (BAL proteins). (D and E) Metformin lowers BAL proinflammatory cytokines content, including TNF-α, MIP-2, KC and IL-6 in mice subjected to CLP and metformin or CLP and SB216763, compared with control (sham) or mice with CLP alone (means ± SD, n = 6 mice/group, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01).