The Effect of Unsaturated Fatty Acids on Molecular Markers of Cholesterol Homeostasis in THP-1 Macrophages

Anti-atherosclerotic effects of natural compounds targeting lipid metabolism and inflammation: Focus on PPARs, LXRs, and PCSK9

A large body of evidence has shown that modulation of the nuclear receptors peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), the liver X receptors (LXRs), the proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) and inflammatory processes by natural compounds has hypolipidemic and anti-atherosclerotic effects. These beneficial outcomes are certainly related to the crucial function of these targets in maintaining cholesterol homeostasis and regulating systemic inflammation. Currently, the therapeutic scenario for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) offers a plethora of widely validated and functional pharmacological treatments to improve the health status of patients. However, patients are increasingly sceptical of pharmacological treatments which are often associated with moderate to severe side effects. The aim of our review is to provide a collection of the most recent scientific evidence on the most common phytochemicals, used for centuries in the Mediterranean diet and traditional chinese medicine that act on these key regulators of cholesterol homeostasis and systemic inflammation, which could constitute important tools for CVD management.

Molecular mechanism of a new Laminaria japonica polysaccharide on the suppression of macrophage foam cell formation via regulating cellular lipid metabolism and suppressing cellular inflammation

SCOPE

Laminaria japonica is an important marine vegetable with great health benefits for preventing atherosclerosis. Since the foam cell formation is an important hallmark for the initiation of atherosclerosis, we examined the effect and underlying mechanism of a purified L. japonica polysaccharide (LJP61A) on the suppression of macrophage foam cell formation in this study. The chemical structure was further characterized.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Using oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-induced foam cell model, we found that the cellular lipid accumulation was significantly attenuated by 25 μg/mL LJP61A. Meanwhile, LJP61A caused a remarkable decrease in mRNA expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ that was accompanied by the reduction of CD36 and Acyl coenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase-1 mRNA levels, and the enhancement of ATP-binding cassette transporters A1 and scavenger receptor B1 mRNA levels. Besides these, the ox-LDL-induced cellular inflammation was also restricted by LJP61A treatment via mammalian target of rapamycin-mediated Toll-like receptor 2/4-Mitogen-activated protein kinases/nuclear factor kappa-B pathways. The structure of LJP61A was characterized as a repeating unit consisting of →3,6)-α-d-Manp-(1→, →4)-α-d-Manp-(1→, →4)-2-O-acetyl-β-d-Glcp-(1→, →4)-β-d-Glcp-(1→, →6)-4-O-SO3 -β-d-Galp-(1→, →6)-β-d-Galp-(1→, →3)-β-d-Galp-(1→, and a terminal residue of α-d-Glcp-(1→.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that LJP61A inhibits the conversion of macrophage into foam cell via regulating cellular lipid metabolism and suppressing cellular inflammation.