1.Exploration of the effects of Huayu qutan formula on atherosclerosis in ApoE-/- mice based on EETs-mediated pyroptosis
Na ZHAO ; Guoyuan SUI ; Jiawei MENG ; Meijun LYU ; Lianqun JIA
China Pharmacy 2024;35(12):1437-1442
OBJECTIVE To explore the effects and mechanism of Huayu qutan formula on atherosclerosis (AS) in ApoE-/- mice. METHODS Thirty ApoE-/- mice were randomly divided into model group, Huayu qutan formula group [20 g/(kg·d)], rosuvastatin group [1.55 mg/(kg·d)], with 10 mice in each group. Another 10 C57BL/6J mice were selected as normal control group. ApoE-/- mice were given high-lipid diet for 12 weeks to induce AS model. After modeling, each group was given relevant medicine or normal saline intragastrically, once a day, for 4 consecutive weeks. After the last administration, the levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL- C), 5,6-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (5, 6-EET), 8,9-EET, 11,12-EET, 14,15-EET, interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-18 in serum were detected; mRNA expressions of inhibitor of nuclear factor κB (IκB), nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3), Caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18 in the aortic tissue of mice were detected; protein expression levels of IκB, NF- κB, NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing CARD (ASC), Caspase-1, gasdermin D (GSDMD), IL-1β and IL-18 in the aortic tissue of mice were detected. The morphological changes of the aortic tissue were observed. RESULTS Compared with model group, the serum levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, IL-1β and IL-18, the mRNA expressions of IκB, NF-κB, NLRP3, Caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18 in aortic tissue, and the protein expressions of IκB, NF-κB, NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1, GSDMD, IL-1β and IL-18 were all decreased significantly in Huayu qutan formula group and rosuvastatin group (P<0.05), while the serum levels of 5,6-EET, 8,9-EET, 11,12-EET and 14,15-EET were increased significantly (P<0.05). The aortic atherosclerotic plaques were alleviated significantly. CONCLUSIONS Huayu qutan formula can play role of anti-AS through EETs-mediated pyroptosis.