Puerarin Inhibits OxLDL-Induced Macrophage Activation And Foam Cell Formation In Human THP-1 Macrophage

Objective Puerarin,an isoflavone derived from Kudzu roots,has been widely used for treatment of cardiovascular and cerebral vascular diseases in China.However,the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown.The present study investigated whether puerarin inhibited atherogenic lipid ox LDL-mediated macrophage activation and foam cell formation in human THP-1 macrophage.Methods Human THP-1 monocytes were cultured and differentiated into macrophages by preincubation with 100 ng/m L phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate(PMA)for 36 hours.The cells were incubated with vehicle(equal amount of culture medium)and ox LDL(50 ug/ml)with or without puerarin(10 ug/ml,50 ug/ml,100 ug/ml)for 24 hours.By Western blot detection the expression of CD36,TLR4,p-Ik B?,Ik B? protein level;Through the Real Time-PCR detection of TNF?,IL-1? m RNA expression;Oil red O staining to observe the accumulation of lipids in the cell;After the Annexin V-FITC/PI staining flow cytometry is used to test the THP-1 cells apoptosis rate.Results Compared with the control group,ox LDL can significantly increase the scavenger receptor CD36,TLR4 protein expression with the ratio of p-Ik B?/Ik B? increasing,puerarin treatment can reduce the expression of the above factors in a dose-dependent;Compared with the control group,the m RNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines TNF? and IL-1?was significantly increased in the cells treated with ox LDL.Puerarin prevented increase in the m RNA expression of these proinflammatory genes induced by ox LDL.In addition,puerarin can inhibits ox LDL-induced lipid accumulation and foam cell formation,and can reduced the number of early apoptotic cells in the cell treated with ox LDL.Conclusions Our results show that puerarin has anti-inflammatory and antiatherogenic effects in vitro;the underlying mechanisms may involve the inhibition of TLR4/NFk B pathway and downregulation of CD36 expression.The results from the present study provide scientific evidence and may expand our armamentarium to use puerarin for prevention and treatment of cardiovascular and atherosclerotic diseases.