Astragalus membranaceus Injection Suppresses Production of Interleukin-6 by Activating Autophagy through the AMPK-mTOR Pathway in Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated Macrophages

Figure 9

Proposed mechanisms of AM on the expression of IL-6 in LPS-stimulated macrophages. LPS inhibits autophagy by activating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway and also upregulates the expression of IL-6. The AM inhibits mTOR, promoting autophagy, and inhibits the expression of IL-6 by increasing the phosphorylation of AMPK. The activation of autophagy leads to the inhibition of the expression of IL-6. Conclusively, AM inhibits the expression of IL-6 and promotes autophagy via modulating the AMPK-mTOR signaling pathways.