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Research Article: Xuebijing alleviates acute hydrogen sulfide-induced pyroptosis in rat spleen via suppression of the caspase-1/NLRP3 pathway

Date Published: 2026-07-29

Abstract:
Hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) is a pervasive environmental toxicant with well-established immunotoxic effects. However, its action on lymphoid organs—particularly whether it triggers splenic pyroptosis—remains elusive. This study explored the effect of acute H 2 S exposure on rat spleen and the therapeutic potential of Xuebijing (XBJ), a traditional Chinese medicine for sepsis. Rats were exposed to 300 ppm H 2 S for 3 h, with or without 7-day XBJ pretreatment (4 mg/kg, i.p.). Splenic injury was evaluated by histopathology, ultrastructure, oxidative stress parameters, immunofluorescence, and immunoblotting. H 2 S exposure alone caused marked splenic damage, evidenced by increased organ coefficient, disrupted tissue architecture, mitochondrial swelling, and redox imbalance [depleted glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT); elevated malondialdehyde (MDA)]. Mechanistically, H 2 S activated the NF-?B/NLRP3/caspase-1 axis, upregulating NLRP3, ASC, cleaved caspase-1, and GSDMD-N, along with elevated interleukin-1? (IL-1?) and interleukin-18 (IL-18). XBJ pretreatment reversed these alterations, suppressing NF-?B phosphorylation, inflammasome assembly, and pyroptotic cell death. These findings demonstrate that H 2 S induces splenic pyroptosis via the NF-?B/NLRP3/caspase-1 pathway, and that XBJ confers protection by interrupting this cascade, offering a mechanism-based candidate for the treatment of acute H 2 S poisoning.

Introduction:
Hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) is a highly toxic gas with a characteristic odor of rotten eggs that is ubiquitously present in industrial settings, sewage systems, and sites of organic matter decomposition ( 1 ). Beyond its well-documented acute toxicity, recent large-scale environmental events have underscored the public health relevance of H 2 S exposure ( 2 ). As a significant environmental pollutant and occupational hazard, incidents of H 2 S poisoning are frequently reported, with severe cases rapidly leading to…

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