Mechanism of Tianxiang Dan in Inhibiting Atherosclerosis Progression by Regulating the Autophagy-mTOR-AIM2 Inflammasome Axis Based on ApoE-/- and NLRP3-/- Mouse Models
摘要:
[Objectives] To explore the effect of Tianxiang Dan in inhibiting the progression of atherosclerosis in mice by regulating the autophagy-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)-absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) inflammatoryosome axis and its mechanism. [Methods] Atherosclerosis models of ApoE knockout (ApoE-/-) mice were established by feeding with a high-fat diet for 12 weeks. The mice were divided into the model group (MD group), Tianxian Dan group [2.73 g/(kg·d), TXD group], ApoE-/-·NACHT, LRR and PYD domain protein 3 (NLRP3)-/-+TXD group [2.73 g/(kg·d), NLRP3-/- group] and ApoE-/-·NLRP3-/-+RGFP966 group [400 μg/(kg·d), RGFP966 group], with 10 mice in each group. Ten C57BL/6J mice were fed with the basic diet as the blank control group (CO group). The plaque burden and stability were evaluated by oil red O staining, hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Masson staining. The morphology of autophagosomes in aortic tissue was observed under transmission electron microscopy. The expressions of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3), myosinlike BCL2-binding protein (Beclin-1), phosphorylated mTOR (p-mTOR), AIM2, Caspase-1, pyroptosis factor D (GSDMD), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-18 (IL-18) proteins were detected by Western Blot. The mRNA expression of AIM2 was detected by immunohistochemistry and real-time fluorescence quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The levels of IL-1β and IL-18 in serum and aortic homogenate were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and correlation analysis was performed. [Results] Compared with the MD group, the protein expressions of AIM2, p-mTOR, Caspase-1, GSDMD, IL-1β, IL-18, and the serum levels of IL-1β and IL-18, the mRNA expression AIM2 in the TXD group decreased, while the protein expressions of LC3 and Beclin-1 increased (P<0.05). Compared with the TXD group, the protein expressions of AIM2, p-mTOR, Caspase-1, GSDMD, and AIM2 mRNA in the NLRP3-/- group increased, while the protein expressions of IL-18, LC3, Beclin-1, and the serum content of IL-18 decreased (P<0.05). Compared with the TXD group, the protein expression and serum content of IL-18 in the RGFP966 group decreased (P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed that LC3 was negatively correlated with AIM2, GSDMD, IL-1β, IL-18, and p-mTOR was positively correlated with AIM2, GSDMD, IL-1β, and IL-18. [Conclusions] Tianxiang Dan could reduce plaque burden and enhance plaque stability, and its mechanism might be related to the regulation of the autophagy-mTOR-AIM2 inflammatory pathway.
关键词:
Atherosclerosis, Tianxian Dan, Autophagy-mammalian target of rapamycin-absent in melanoma 2 inflammatory pathway, Mice, Experimental study