Xiao-Xiao Liu1, Xiao-Wen Zhang2, Kai Wang3, Xue-Ying Wang3, Wen-Long Ma4, Wei Cao5, Dan Mo3, Yang Sun1, Xiao-Qiang Li6. 1. Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China; Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Pharmacology of Chinese Materia Medica of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, China. 2. Department of Natural Medicine & Institute of Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China. 3. Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China. 4. Department of Neurosurgery, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China. 5. Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Natural Products & Chemical Biology, School of Chemistry & Pharmacy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China. 6. Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China; Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Pharmacology of Chinese Materia Medica of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, China. Electronic address: xxqqli@fmmu.edu.cn.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Atherosclerosis is characterized by chronic inflammation in vascular wall. Previous studies suggest that Kuwanon G (KWG) exerts anti-inflammatory activities. However, the effect of KWG on atherosclerosis remains unexplored. AIMS: To explore whether KWG affects macrophage foam cell formation in vitro and atherogenesis in vivo. METHODS: RAW 264.7 macrophages were stimulated with ox-LDL for 24h to induce foam cell formation and treated with KWG. Foam cell formation was determined by ORO staining and enzymatic analysis. Pro-inflammatory cytokines mRNA levels were tested by Real-time PCR method. Further molecular mechanism was investigated using Western blot. In vivo, ApoE-/- mice were fed with high-fat diet and intraperitoneally injected with KWG. Atherosclerotic lesion was accessed by H&E and ORO staining. Plaque composition was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and Sirius Red staining. Serum lipid profile and inflammatory cytokines were evaluated by enzymatic method and ELISA. RESULTS: KWG significantly decreased intracellular lipid accumulation and inflammatory cytokines mRNA levels in macrophages through enhancing LXRα-ABCA1/ABCG1 pathway and inhibiting NFκB activation. Administrated with KWG remarkably reduced the atherosclerotic lesion areas and macrophage content in the plaque of high-fat diet fed ApoE-/- mice. KWG also reduced hyperlipidemia and serum inflammatory cytokines in vivo. CONCLUSION: Taken together, these data highlight that KWG can attenuate atherosclerosis through inhibiting foam cell formation and inflammatory response.
BACKGROUND:Atherosclerosis is characterized by chronic inflammation in vascular wall. Previous studies suggest that Kuwanon G (KWG) exerts anti-inflammatory activities. However, the effect of KWG on atherosclerosis remains unexplored. AIMS: To explore whether KWG affects macrophage foam cell formation in vitro and atherogenesis in vivo. METHODS: RAW 264.7 macrophages were stimulated with ox-LDL for 24h to induce foam cell formation and treated with KWG. Foam cell formation was determined by ORO staining and enzymatic analysis. Pro-inflammatory cytokines mRNA levels were tested by Real-time PCR method. Further molecular mechanism was investigated using Western blot. In vivo, ApoE-/- mice were fed with high-fat diet and intraperitoneally injected with KWG. Atherosclerotic lesion was accessed by H&E and ORO staining. Plaque composition was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and Sirius Red staining. Serum lipid profile and inflammatory cytokines were evaluated by enzymatic method and ELISA. RESULTS: KWG significantly decreased intracellular lipid accumulation and inflammatory cytokines mRNA levels in macrophages through enhancing LXRα-ABCA1/ABCG1 pathway and inhibiting NFκB activation. Administrated with KWG remarkably reduced the atherosclerotic lesion areas and macrophage content in the plaque of high-fat diet fed ApoE-/- mice. KWG also reduced hyperlipidemia and serum inflammatory cytokines in vivo. CONCLUSION: Taken together, these data highlight that KWG can attenuate atherosclerosis through inhibiting foam cell formation and inflammatory response.