Astragaloside IV Protects Against Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-Induced Endothelial Cell Injury by Reducing Oxidative Stress and Inflammation

Med Sci Monit. 2019 Mar 22:25:2132-2140. doi: 10.12659/MSM.912894.

Abstract

BACKGROUND Endothelial injury is the main mechanism of atherosclerosis, and is caused by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL). Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) is the primary active ingredient of the Chinese herb Huangqi, and exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in cardiovascular diseases. This study investigated the protective effect of AS-IV in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). MATERIAL AND METHODS HUVEC cells were induced with ox-LDL to establish an in vitro atherosclerosis model. Then HUVECs were pretreated for 1 h with AS-IV at different concentrations (10, 20, and 50 μM) and then exposed to ox-LDL (100 μg/mL) for 48 h. The cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, apoptosis, migration, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), and NADPH oxidase activity of HUVECs were measured. qRT-PCR was performed to measure the mRNA expressions of Nrf2, HO-1, TNFalpha, and IL-6. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to measure the supernatant contents of TNFalpha and IL-6. RESULTS Exposure of HUVECs to ox-LDL reduced cell viability and migration, induced apoptosis, and increased intracellular ROS production and NADPH oxidase. Pretreatment with AS-IV (10, 20, and 50 μM) significantly enhanced the cell viability and migration, suppressed LDH release, apoptosis, ROS production, and NADPH oxidase in HUVECs, in a concentration-dependent manner. The AS-IV (50 μM) alone did not show significant differences from control. AS-IV increased mRNA expressions of Nrf2 and HO-1 and decreased mRNA expressions of TNFalpha and IL-6 in the ox-LDL-HUEVC cells. Furthermore, AS-IV reduced supernatant contents of TNFalpha and IL-6. CONCLUSIONS Astragaloside IV prevents ox-LDL-induced endothelial cell injury by reducing apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammatory response.

MeSH terms

  • Antioxidants / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Endothelial Cells / drug effects*
  • Endothelial Cells / physiology
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / analysis
  • Lipoproteins, LDL / metabolism
  • NADP / analysis
  • NADP / drug effects
  • NADPH Oxidases / metabolism
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects*
  • Protective Agents / pharmacology
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Saponins / metabolism
  • Saponins / pharmacology*
  • Triterpenes / metabolism
  • Triterpenes / pharmacology*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Lipoproteins, LDL
  • Protective Agents
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Saponins
  • TNF protein, human
  • Triterpenes
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • oxidized low density lipoprotein
  • astragaloside A
  • NADP
  • L-Lactate Dehydrogenase
  • NADPH Oxidases