AIM: To observe the effects of Tangshen formula (TSF) treatment on lipid efflux and uptake in sodium palmitate (PA) induced RAW264.7 macrophages. METHODS: After 200 μmol/L PA induced RAW264.7 macrophages, TSF and PGC-1α-siRNA were given to intervene respectively. The lipid content in the cells was detected by ELISA kit; intracellular lipid droplet deposition was detected by BODIPY 493/503 and Filipin staining. Western blot and Real-time PCR were used to detect the expression of PGC-1α, LXR, ABCA1 and CD36. RESULTS: TSF diminished the levels of TC, TG and intracellular lipid droplet deposition in PA-induced RAW264.7 macrophages. Western blot and Real-time PCR analysis showed that TSF could up-regulate the expression of PGC-1α, LXR, ABCA1 and down-regulate the expression of CD36. Furthermore, silencing PCG-1α by SiRNA significantly suppressed the effects of upregulating the expression of PGC-1α, LXR and ABCA1, and downregulating the CD36 expression with TSF treatment. CONCLUSION: TSF may extenuate intracellular lipid droplet deposition in macrophages by upregulating cholesterol efflux through activating the PGC-1α/LXR/ABCA1 pathway and inhibiting lipid uptake through down-regulateing the expression of CD36.

AIM: To observe the effect of Tangshen formula (TSF) treatment on TGF-β1/Smad3 pathway and cellular cholesterol efflux and explore its potential mechanism in HG-induced mouse tubular epithelial cells (mTECs). METHODS: After 25 mmol/L high glucose induced mTECs, TSF and Smad3 inhibitor SIS3 were given to intervene respectively. The lipid content in the cells was detected by ELISA kit; TGF-β1/Smad3 pathway and PGC-1α, LXR, ABCA1, ABCG1 were detected by Western blot and real-time PCR. RESULTS: TSF diminished the levels of TC, TG, LDL-C and increased the levels of HDL-C in HG-induced mTECs. Western blot and real-time PCR analysis showed that expression levels of TGF-β1, Smad3, Collagen and Fibronectin were significantly downregulated in the HG-induced mTECs with TSF and SIS3 treatment. And PGC-1α, LXR, ABCA1, ABCG1 expression levels were significantly upregulated in the HG-induced mTECs with TSF and SIS3 treatment. CONCLUSION: TSF can promote the cellular cholesterol efflux in HG-induced mTECs vis suppression of TGF-β1/Smad3 pathway.