Exploration of the Effect of Xinmaikang Prescription on Vascular Endothelial Cell Pyroptosis in Mice with Atherosclerosis Based on NLRP3/Caspase-1/IL-1β Signaling Pathway
10.13359/j.cnki.gzxbtcm.2025.01.029
- VernacularTitle:基于NLRP3/Caspase-1/IL-1β信号通路探讨心脉康方对动脉粥样硬化小鼠血管内皮细胞焦亡的影响
- Author:
Puli XU
1
;
Longyu YUAN
;
Hongxue LYU
Author Information
1. 广州中医药大学东莞医院,广东东莞 523808
- Keywords:
Xinmaikang Prescription;
atherosclerosis;
NLRP3 inflammasome;
Caspase-1;
IL-1β;
pyroptosis;
mice
- From:
Journal of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
2025;42(1):198-204
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To observe the therapeutic effect and mechanism of Xinmaikang Prescription for mice with atherosclerosis(AS).Methods A high-fat diet feeding method was used to construct an AS ApoE-/-mouse model.Successful modeled mice were randomly divided into four groups,i.e.,the model group,the Atorvastatin group,and the low-and high-dose groups of Xinmaikang Prescription,with eight mice in each group.A normal group(eight mice)was also set up.After 12 weeks of corresponding intervention in each group,the pathological changes of aorta were observed by oil red O staining,enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to determine the contents of interleukin 1β(IL-1β)and interleukin 18(IL-18)in serum,and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR)was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of pyroptosis-associated proteins nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3)and cysteine protein hydrolase 1(Caspase-1)as well as inflammatory factors IL-1β and IL-18 in aorta tissues,and Western Blot method was used to detect the protein expression levels of NLRP3,Caspase-1,IL-1β and IL-18 in aortic tissues.Results Compared with the normal group,the intima thickness in the model group was significantly increased,and a large number of lipid plaques and inflammatory cell infiltration appeared in aorta,the contents of IL-1β and IL-18 in serum were elevated(P<0.01),and the mRNA and protein expression levels of NLRP3,Caspase-1,IL-1β and IL-18 in the aortic tissues were significantly increased(P<0.01);in the Xinmaikang Prescription high-dose group and Atorvastatin group,the lipid droplets and area of vulnerable plaques in aortic tissues were significantly reduced,and the serum levels of IL-1β and IL-18 were decreased(P<0.01),and the mRNA and protein expression of NLRP3,Caspase-1,IL-1β and IL-18 in aortic tissues were significantly reduced(P<0.01).Conclusion Xinmaikang Prescription may effectively reduce the inflammatory response and pyoptosis of vascular endothelial cells in AS model mice through regulating the NLRP3/Caspase-1/IL-1β signaling pathway,thus exerting the effect of preventing and treating AS.
