Qidantongmai Tablets prevents macrophage-to-foam cell transformation through regulating TLR4 signaling pathway

  AIM  To observe the effects of Qidantongmai Tablets (QDTMT) on the transformation process of RAW264.7 cells to foam cells induced by ox-LDL and the expression levels of inflammatory factors and the TLR4 signaling pathway.

  METHODS  RAW264.7 cells were cultured and randomly divided into a control group, an ox-LDL induction group, and an ox-LDL induction + QDTMT group. The area of oil red positive expressions in each group was analyzed and the ratio of oil red O positive area/cell total area was computed after macrophage-to-foam cell transformation. After collection of the cells, the expression levels of inflammatory factors TNF-, IL-6 and CRP were detected by ELISA, and the expression levels of TLR4 and NF-κB factors were detected by real-time PCR and Western blot.

  RESULTS  Compared with those in the control group, the rate of oil red O positive area/cell total area and the expression levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and CRP in the ox-LDL induction group were significantly increased (P < 0.05) and at the same time, the expression levels of TLR4 and NF-κB factors were also significantly increased. However, after the QDTMT intervention, transformation rate and expression levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and CRP in the ox-LDL + QDTM group were significantly decreased (P < 0.05) when compared with those in the ox-LDL group and the expression levels of TLR4 and NF-κB were also significantly decreased.

  CONCLUSION  Inflammation plays an important role in the process of atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability. Qidantongmai Tablets inbihit the the TLR4 signaling pathway and significantly reduce the expression levels of inflammatory factors, the rate of oil red O positive area/cell total area, and prevents macrophage-to-foam cell transformation.