OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Buyang Huanwu Decoction (BHD), Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction (XZD), and Sijunzi Decoction (SD) contained serums on expressions of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor (NF)-κB signals, lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and to explore possible anti-atherosclerotic mechanisms.

METHODSTwenty New Zealand rabbits were divided into 4 groups at random, i.e., the normal control group, the BHD group (6.7 g/kg), the XZD group (3.6 g/kg), and the SD group (1.6 g/kg), 5 in each group. All medication lasted for 7 successive days. Two h after the final medication, about 50 mL blood was withdrawn from rabbit heart for preparing serums. Human umbilical vein endothelial cell ECV304 were cultured in vitro for 18 h and randomly divided into the blank control group, the model group, the Western medicine (WM) control group, the BHD group, the XZD group, and the SD group at random. ECV304, except in the blank control group, were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 2 h. Those in the WM control group and CM groups were treated respectively with corresponding CM contained serum for 24 h. Finally gene and protein expressions of TLR4, myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor-6 (TRAF-6), NF-κB, LOX-1, TNF-α, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 were detected by fluorescent quantitative PCR and Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the blank control group, mRNA expressions of TLR4, MyD88, TRAF-6, NF-KB, LOX-1 , TNF-cx, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 increased significantly; protein expressions of TLR4, NF-κB, LOX-1, TNF-α, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 also increased significantly in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, mRNA and protein expressions of each index could be significantly inhibited in the BHD group, the XZD group, and the WM control group (P < 0.05). Besides, mRNA and protein expressions of each index could be significantly elevated more in the BHD group and the XZD group than in the WM control group (P < 0.05). No statistical difference existed in each index between the SD group and the rest groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe mechanism of BHD and XZD for fighting against atherosclerosis might be associated with inhibiting TLR4/NF-κB signal transduction pathway and expressions of its downstream inflammatory factors such as LOX-1, TNF-α, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1. But SD showed no associated effect on atherosclerosis.