Effects of Alisma Decoction on lipid metabolism and inflammatory response are mediated through the activation of the LXRα pathway in macrophage-derived foam cells

Xue,Xiehua; Chen,Tong; Wei,Wei; Zhou,Xiaomao; Lin,Zhicheng; Chen,Lidian

doi:10.3892/ijmm.2014.1646

Effects of Alisma Decoction on lipid metabolism and inflammatory response are mediated through the activation of the LXRα pathway in macrophage-derived foam cells

Authors:
- Xiehua Xue
- Tong Chen
- Wei Wei
- Xiaomao Zhou
- Zhicheng Lin
- Lidian Chen
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Affiliations: Affiliated Rehabilitation Hospital, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350003, P.R. China, College of Rehabilitation Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350003, P.R. China
Published online on: February 6, 2014 https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2014.1646
Pages: 971-977

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Abstract

The liver X receptor α (LXRα)/ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) pathway and LXR-modulated cytokines play an important role in macrophages which mediate lipid engulfment and the inflammatory response, and participate in the process of atherosclerosis. Therefore, lipid-lowering and anti-inflammatory therapy through the activation of the LXRα/ABCA1 pathway and LXRα-modulated cytokines may prove to be one of the main treatment strategies for atherosclerosis. Alisma Decoction (AD) has long been used in China to clinically treat cardiovascular and cerebral diseases; however, the precise mechanisms involved remain to be elucidated. In the present study, we evaluated the regulation of lipids and the anti-inflammatory effects exerted by AD and investigated the underlying molecular mechanisms using oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-stimulated foam cells derived from rat peritoneal macrophages. We first found that AD markedly relieved lipid deposition in foam cells as it increased LXRα and ABCA1 expression and decreased the ox-LDL-induced expression of inflammatory cytokines, such as matrix metalloproteinase-9 and interleukin-1β. Collectively, our findings suggest that blocking lipid deposition and inhibiting inflammatory response through the activation of the LXRα pathway may be one of the main mechanisms through which AD exerts its anti-atherosclerotic effects.

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