Baicalin liposomes ameliorate cerebral ischemia-reperfusion-induced acute lung injury by modulating the inflammatory response

Stroke is the leading cause of death globally, with stroke-associated pneumonia being a major contributor to its high mortality. Among these complications, cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury-induced acute lung injury (CIR-ALI) is characterized by high morbidity and mortality rate, which causes a great economic burden to the society. The course of CIR-ALI is complex, in which the inflammatory cascade response plays a central role in the pathogenesis of CIR-ALI. Baicalin (BA), a flavonoid extracted from the natural plant Scutellaria baicalensis, exhibits diverse pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects of baicalin and its delivery system baicalin liposome (BA-LP) on CIR-ALI injury. Using in vitro models of BV2 and Raw264.7 cells, as well as an in vivo model established via the wire bolus method, we measured inflammatory factors and pathological injuries in brain and lung tissues to evaluate the intervention effects of BA and BA-LP. In addition, the preliminary analysis of network pharmacology combined with experimental validation in this study preliminarily elucidated that BA and BA-LP may attenuate CIR-ALI by modulating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.