Treg Immunomodulation Contributes to the Anti-atherosclerotic Effects of Huxin Formula in ApoE^(-/-)Mice  

作　　者：OU Xiao-min CAI Jing HU Xiao-yue ZENG Qiao-huang LAN Tao-hua JIANG Wei 

机构地区：[1]The Second Clinical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine,Guangzhou,510405,China [2]Department of Cardiology,Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine,the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine,Guangzhou,510020,China [3]Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine for Prevention and Treatment of Refractory Chronic Diseases,Guangzhou,510020,China

出　　处：《Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine》2024年第10期896-905,共10页中国结合医学杂志（英文版）

基　　金：Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81874432);Traditional Chinese Medicine Bureau of Guangdong Province(No.20221172)。

摘　　要：Objective:To explore the effects of Huxin formula(HXF)in curtailing atherosclerosis and its underlying mechanism.Methods:According to random number table method,24 specific pathogen free male ApoE^(-/-)mice were randomly divided into model group,HXF low-dose(HXF-L)group(8.4 g/kg daily),HXF high-dose(HXF-H)group(16.8 g/kg daily),and pravastatin(8 mg/kg daily)group in ExperimentⅠ(n=6 per group).C57BL/6J mice served as the control group(n=6).ApoE^(-/-)mice in HXF-L,HXF-H,pravastatin groups were fed a Western diet and administered continuously by gavage for 12 weeks,while C57BL/6J mice in the control group were fed conventional lab mouse chow for 12 weeks.Further,Tregs were depleted by weekly intraperitoneal injection of purified anti-mouse CD25 antibody(PC61,250μg per mouse)for 4 weeks in ExperimentⅡ(n=6 per group).Oil Red O and Masson staining were used to evaluate the plaque area and aortic root fibrosis.The CD4^(+)CD25^(+)Foxp3^(+)Treg counts in the lymph nodes and spleen cells were detected using flow cytometric analysis.The transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1),interleukin(IL)-10,and IL-6 serum levels were examined by MILLIPLEX?MAP technology.Quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR(qRT-PCR)and Western blot were utilized to assess the expression of TGF-βmRNA and protein in the aorta.The expression of CD4^(+)T lymphocytes,macrophages and smooth muscle cells in the aortic root were detected by immunofluorescence staining.Results:HXF reduced plaque area in ApoE^(-/-)mice(P<0.01).HXF increased the Treg counts in the lymph nodes and spleen cells(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Moreover,HXF alleviated inflammatory response via elevating IL-10 and TGF-β1 serum levels(P<0.05),while decreasing the IL-6 serum levels in ApoE^(-/-)mice(P>0.05).Also,HXF upregulated the expression of TGF-βmRNA and protein in the aorta(P<0.05).Additionally,HXF attenuated CD4^(+)T lymphocytes,macrophages and smooth muscle cells in aortic root plaque(P<0.01).Furthermore,the depletion of Tregs with CD25 antibody(PC61)curtailed the reduction

关 键 词：atherosclerosis Huxin Formula TREGS immune responses inflammation 

分 类 号：R285.5[医药卫生—中药学]