Abstract
Apamin, a peptide component of bee venom (BV), has anti-inflammatory properties. However, the molecular mechanisms by which apamin prevents atherosclerosis are not fully understood. We examined the effect of apamin on atherosclerotic mice. Atherosclerotic mice received intraperitoneal (ip) injections of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 2 mg/kg) to induce atherosclerotic change and were fed an atherogenic diet for 12 weeks. Apamin (0.05 mg/kg) was administered by ip injection. LPS-induced THP-1-derived macrophage inflammation treated with apamin reduced expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1, and intracellular cell adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, as well as the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway. Apamin decreased the formation of atherosclerotic lesions as assessed by hematoxylin and elastic staining. Treatment with apamin reduced lipids, Ca2+ levels, and TNF-α in the serum from atherosclerotic mice. Further, apamin significantly attenuated expression of VCAM-1, ICAM-1, TGF-β1, and fibronectin in the descending aorta from atherosclerotic mice. These results indicate that apamin plays an important role in monocyte/macrophage inflammatory processing and may be of potential value for preventing atherosclerosis.
Highlights
Atherosclerosis is a progressive disease characterized by formation of a plaque, consisting mainly of cholesterol, other lipids, and debris from cellular death, in the inner lining of arteries [1]
To investigate the effect of apamin on inflammatory response, this study assessed the effect of apamin on LPS-induced cytokine secretion in THP1-derived macrophages (Figure 1(a))
Upregulation of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in LPS-treated THP-1-derived macrophages was suppressed by apamin in a concentration-dependent manner
Summary
Atherosclerosis is a progressive disease characterized by formation of a plaque, consisting mainly of cholesterol, other lipids, and debris from cellular death, in the inner lining of arteries [1] It is increasingly regarded as a chronic inflammatory disease of the vessel wall [1]. Macrophages are multipotent inflammatory cells with the capacity to synthesize and secrete proinflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-8, and IL-6 [3]. These cytokines play a central role during development of atherosclerosis. Proinflammatory cytokines and adhesion molecules, such as vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM) and intercellular cell adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, induce
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