Chuanrui Ma1,2, Wenwen Zhang3, Xiaoxiao Yang1, Ying Liu2, Lipei Liu2, Ke Feng2, Xiaomeng Zhang2, Shu Yang2, Lei Sun2, Miao Yu2, Jie Yang2, Xiaoju Li2, Wenquan Hu4, Robert Q Miao4, Yan Zhu5, Luyuan Li6, Jihong Han1,2,6, Yuanli Chen1,6, Yajun Duan1,2. 1. College of Biomedical Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, China. 2. College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials of Ministry of Education, Nankai University, Tianjin, China. 3. Research Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tianjin Central Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tianjin, China. 4. Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA. 5. Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China. 6. State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin, China.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The liver X receptor (LXR) agonist T317 reduces atherosclerosis but induces fatty liver. Metformin activates energy metabolism by activating AMPKα. In this study, we determined if interactions between metformin and T317 could inhibit atherosclerosis without activation of hepatic lipogenesis. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Apolipoprotein E-deficient mice were treated with T317, metformin or both agents, in a high-fat diet for 16 weeks. Then, samples of aorta, liver, macrophage and serum were collected to determine atherosclerotic lesions, fatty liver, lipid profiles and expression of related proteins. Techniques used included immunohistochemistry, histology, qRT-PCR and Western blot. KEY RESULTS: T317 inhibited en face and aortic root sinus lesions, and the inhibition was further enhanced by addition of metformin. Co-treatment with metformin and T317 increased lesion stability, by increasing collagen content, and reducing necrotic cores and calcification. Formation of macrophages/foam cells and their accumulation in arterial wall were inhibited by the co-treatment, which was accompanied by increased ABCA1/ABCG1 expression, reduced monocyte adhesion and apparent local proliferation of macrophages. Metformin blocked T317-induced fatty liver by inhibiting T317-induced hepatic LXRα nuclear translocation and expression of lipogenic genes and by activating AMPKα. Moreover, co-treatment with T317 and metformin improved triglyceride metabolism by inducing expression of adipose triglyceride lipase, hormone-sensitive lipase, PPARα and carnitine acetyltransferase and by inhibiting acyl-CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 expression. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Co-treatment with T317 and metformin inhibited the development of atherosclerosis without activation of lipogenesis, suggesting that combined treatment with T317 and metformin may be a novel approach to inhibition of atherosclerosis.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The liver X receptor (LXR) agonist T317 reduces atherosclerosis but induces fatty liver. Metformin activates energy metabolism by activating AMPKα. In this study, we determined if interactions between metformin and T317 could inhibit atherosclerosis without activation of hepatic lipogenesis. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Apolipoprotein E-deficientmice were treated with T317, metformin or both agents, in a high-fat diet for 16 weeks. Then, samples of aorta, liver, macrophage and serum were collected to determine atherosclerotic lesions, fatty liver, lipid profiles and expression of related proteins. Techniques used included immunohistochemistry, histology, qRT-PCR and Western blot. KEY RESULTS:T317 inhibited en face and aortic root sinus lesions, and the inhibition was further enhanced by addition of metformin. Co-treatment with metformin and T317 increased lesion stability, by increasing collagen content, and reducing necrotic cores and calcification. Formation of macrophages/foam cells and their accumulation in arterial wall were inhibited by the co-treatment, which was accompanied by increased ABCA1/ABCG1 expression, reduced monocyte adhesion and apparent local proliferation of macrophages. Metformin blocked T317-induced fatty liver by inhibiting T317-induced hepatic LXRα nuclear translocation and expression of lipogenic genes and by activating AMPKα. Moreover, co-treatment with T317 and metformin improved triglyceride metabolism by inducing expression of adipose triglyceride lipase, hormone-sensitive lipase, PPARα and carnitine acetyltransferase and by inhibiting acyl-CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 expression. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Co-treatment with T317 and metformin inhibited the development of atherosclerosis without activation of lipogenesis, suggesting that combined treatment with T317 and metformin may be a novel approach to inhibition of atherosclerosis.
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