Protective Effects of Angong Niuhuang Pill on Early Atherosclerosis in ApoE-/- Mice by Reducing the Inflammatory Response.

In this study, we investigated the role of ANP in reducing inflammation during early AS, using a high-fat diet-induced ApoE-/- mouse model of AS. Compared to those with simvastatin, ANP had no significant effect on serum triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein levels. However, it effectively inhibited splenic and vascular inflammation. This agent also reduced the Th17/CD4+T ratio and mRNA expression of IL-6 and increased the Treg/CD4+T ratio and mRNA expression of TGF-β1. Thus, ANP restored Th17/Treg homeostasis in the spleen. It also regulated pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine expression in the aorta in a similar manner. Further, it downregulated the expression of chemokine receptors (CCR2, CXCR3), their ligands (MCP-1, MCP-2, and MCP-3), and cell adhesion molecules (VCAM-1, ICAM-1) in arterial vessels. These results indicate that ANP can ameliorate the development of early AS, mainly by reducing inflammation instead of acting as an antihyperlipidemic drug. PMID: 31236126 [PubMed]
Source: Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine - Category: Complementary Medicine Tags: Evid Based Complement Alternat Med Source Type: research