Mechanism of Scutellariae Radix-Coptidis Rhizoma in the treatment of atherosclerosis based on TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway mediated pyrodeath of macrophages
Objective:To investigate the mechanism of Scutellariae Radix-Coptidis Rhizoma drug(QLYD)in the treatment of atherosclerosis(AS)based on TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway mediated pyrodeath of macrophages.Methods:J774A.1 cell was cultured in vitro,and the drug-containing serum was prepared after inadministration of QLYD in SD rats.The optimal intervention concentration of the drug-containing serum was screened by MTT method.J774A.1 cells were pretreated with different concentrations of drug-containing serum,and lipopolysaccharide(LPS)+adenosine triphosphate(ATP)was given to induce pyrodeath.Morphological changes of cells were observed under optical microscope,cell viability was detected by MTT assay,and cell damage was detected by LDH release assay and Hoechst 33342/propyl iodide(PI)staining.The levels of interleukin(IL)-1β and IL-18 in cell supernatant were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Western Blot assay was used to detect the expression of pathway and related proteins TLR4,MyD88,NF-κB p65,p-NF-κB p65,NLRP3,ASC,Caspase-1,Cleave-Caspase-1,GSDMD and GSDMD-NT.After TLR4 gene overexpression,the expression level of pathway-related proteins and the scorch death of cells were detected.Results:QLYD serum could improve the morphology of J774A.1 after molding.The activity of J774A.1 cells was increased,the LDH release rate and the positive rate of PI cells were decreased(P<0.05).The levels of IL-1 β and IL-18 in cell supernatant were decreased(P<0.05).The expression of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway and pyroptosis related protein were significantly down-regulated(P<0.05).Meanwhile,overexpression of TLR4 could reverse the protective effect of QLYD on J774A.1 cells(P<0.05).Conclusion:QLYD can reduce the pyroptosis level of macrophages by inhibiting TLR4/MyD88/NF-KB signaling pathway,so AS to play an anti-AS role.