Ferulic Acid Protects against Porcine Parvovirus Infection-Induced Apoptosis by Suppressing the Nuclear Factor-κB Inflammasome Axis and Toll-Like Receptor 4 via Nonstructural Protein 1

Abstract EN

Background.

Porcine parvovirus (PPV) infection-induced apoptosis was recently identified as an important pathological factor in PPV-induced placental tissue damage, resulting in reproduction failure.

In the present study, we demonstrate the possible involvement of toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 and nuclear factor (NF)-κB inflammasome activation in PPV infection-induced apoptosis and the protective potential of ferulic acid (FA).

PPV infection significantly activated the expression levels of TLR4, NF-κB, MyD88, and interleukin (IL)-6.

However, FA ameliorated the pathological process, prevented histological alterations, and inhibited the apoptosis rate in porcine kidney (PK-15) cells infected with PPV.

Results.

FA inhibited PPV infection-induced inflammasome activation as shown by decreases in the expression of NF-κB, MyD88, and IL-6.

FA also downregulated nonstructural (NS) 1 protein expression in infected PK-15 cells.

Conclusions.

FA downregulated NS1 and TLR4 signaling, prevented the overproduction of reactive oxygen species, and suppressed the NF-κB inflammasome axis to inhibit PPV-induced apoptosis in PK-15 cells.