Effects of Xuemaitong granules on FBXW7αgene and TLR4 inflammatory signaling pathway

ZHANG Qi; QIAN Gao-chao; DING Zhi-xiang

Abstract：Objective To investigate the effects of Xuemaitong granules on amelioration of atherosclerosis through TLR4 signaling pathway.Methods Male ApoE-deficient mice (n=22, aged 8 weeks, 18 to 20 g) were included, with high fat diet for 13 weeks.After the atherosclerotic plaques were confirmed , the mice were randomly divided into Xuemai-tong granules group and control group;which were sacrificed six weeks later for collection of venous blood and aorta tis -sues.The mRNA expression of FBXW7α, Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), interleukin-6 ( IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor -α( TNF-α) in aorta were measured by real -time quantitative RT-PCR.The pro-tein expression of FBXW7α, C/EBPδand TLR4 in aorta was measured by western -blot.The plasma concentrations of IL-6 and TNF-αwere measured by ELISA.RAW264.7 cell line was stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and trea-ted with the serum of containing Xuemaitong at the same time .The mRNA expression of FBXW7α, TLR4, NF-κB, IL-6 and TNF-αin RAW264.7 was measured by real-time quantitative RT-PCR.The supernatant concentrations of IL -6 and TNF-αwere measured by ELISA .Results The mRNA expression of FBXW7αin the aorta in Xuemaitong gran-ules group was significantly higher than that in control group; however, the expression of TLR4, NF-κB, IL-6 and TNF-αin the aorta in Xuemaitong granules group was significantly lower than that in control group (P<0.01).The pro-tein expression of FBXW 7αin the aorta in Xuemaitong granules group was significantly higher than that in control group ;however , that of C/EBPδand TLR4 in the aorta in Xuemaitong granules group was significantly lower than that in control group (P<0.01).The plasma concentrations of IL -6 and TNF-αin Xuemaitong granules group was significantly lower than those in control group (P<0.01).The same results were obtained with RAW264.7 cell line.Conclusion Xue-maitong granules can promote the expression of FBXW 7α, and inhibit the excessive activation of related molecules of TLR4 signaling pathway , thus reduces the secretion of inflammatory cytokines , against atherosclerosis .