Effect of Tianxiangdan on ox-LDL-induced Autophagy in Endothelial Cells
ZHANG Yajie
MA Junqi
CHENG Xiangqian
WANG Mingli
AN Dongqing
Abstract：Objective:To investigate the effect of Tianxiangdan on autophagy in human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs)following oxidized low-density lipoprotein(ox-LDL)injury.Methods:HUVECs was divided into control group,ox-LDL group,ox-LDL+Tianxiangdan group,and ox-LDL+rapamycin group.The activity of HUVECs was detected using the CCK-8 method,the content of nitric oxide(NO)was measured by colorimetry,the level of autophagy was assessed using the MDC method,autophagic morphological changes were observed by transmission electron microscope,and the expression of autophagy-related proteins was detected by Western Blot method.Results:The cell viability in the ox-LDL+Tianxiangdan group and the ox-LDL+rapamycin group was significantly higher than that in the ox-LDL group,and cell permeability and autophagy levels significantly increased in both groups(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).The number of autophagosomes increased,mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR)signaling was inhibited,and the expression of the autophagy-related structural protein UNC-51-like kinase 1(ULK1)and the autophagy protein microtubule-associated protein light chain 3(LC3)-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰincreased.Conclusion:Tianxiangdan may up-regulate ULK1 and LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ expression levels by inhibiting mTOR signal,promote ox-LDL-induced autophagy and improve cell viability.
Keywords：human umbilical vein endothelial cellsoxidized low-density lipoproteinTianxiangdanautophagyexperimental study
Publication Date：2025-12-25
Online Publishing Date：2026-01-13(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：6( 3728-3733 )