3.9 Itaconic acid inhibitor citraconate reverses the anti-inflammatory effect of Tube
The spleen in the model group was significantly more congested, darker in color, and blunted at the rim than the control group, suggesting splenic hyperfunction of the spleen LPS induction (Figure 14 ). Compared with the model group, the Tube group showed less spleen congestion and relatively lighter color; the overall appearance was similar to that of the control group. Splenic congestion in the inhibitor group was similar to that in the model group and more pronounced than in the Tube group, suggesting that the inhibitor citraconate reduced the protective effect of Tube on the spleen.
RT-PCR experiments showed that IL-1β, IL-6, and iNOS mRNA expression levels were significantly lower in the Tube group than the LPS group, suggesting that Tube inhibited the transcription of IL-1β, IL-6 and iNOS mRNA (Figure 15 ). IL-1β and IL-6 mRNA levels were higher after the use of itaconic acid inhibitor citraconate in the Tube+ inhibitor group comparied with the Tube group, suggesting that citraconate decreases the inhibitory effect of Tube on inflammatory factor transcription.