Apigenin mitigates intestinal barrier dysfunction in sepsis by modulating the AKT signaling pathway

Abstract

Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response syndrome triggered by infection, which can lead to multiple organ dysfunction. This study untangles the synergistic multi-mechanistic effects of the natural flavonoid apigenin in ameliorating this pathological process. Utilizing a murine sepsis model and Caco-2 cell line, we systematically investigated the impact of apigenin on intestinal barrier function. Apigenin treatment (50 mg/kg) markedly improved intestinal barrier integrity, as shown by reduced serum FITC-dextran levels and restored expression of tight junction proteins Occludin, Claudin-1, and ZO-1. The compound simultaneously attenuated systemic inflammation by lowering IL-6 and TNF-α levels. Network pharmacology and molecular docking identified AKT1 and MMP-9 as key molecular targets of apigenin, which was experimentally validated through observed suppression of MMP-9 and COX-2 protein expression. These results demonstrate apigenin’s capacity to preserve intestinal barrier function during sepsis through coordinated anti-inflammatory and barrier-repair mechanisms.