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Berberine inhibits the expression of TNFα, MCP-1, and IL-6 in AcLDL-stimulated macrophages through PPARγ pathway

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Abstract

Macrophages are the main source of cytokines in atherosclerotic plaques. Modified low-density lipoproteins may stimulate macrophages to produce large quantities of proinflammatory cytokines that promote atherosclerosis. Berberine is the main component of the traditional Chinese medicine umbellatine, which has a widespread effect and was used to treat many diseases clinically. Our previous study found that berberine could increase adipophilin expression in macrophages, which is a target gene of PPARγ. PPARγ agonist could decrease proinflammatory cytokines in macrophage. In this study, we investigated the effects and the mechanism of action of berberine on the expression and secretion of TNFα, MCP-1, and IL-6 in vitro to identify new pharmacological actions of berberine. The results of RT-PCR and ELISA shows that berberine may inhibit the expression and secretion of the tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in macrophages stimulated by acetylated low-density lipoprotein (AcLDL), whereas the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) inhibitor GW9662 could attenuate this effect of berberine. This study demonstrates that berberine may inhibit the expression and production of TNF-α, MCP-1, and IL-6 in AcLDL-stimulated macrophages. This effect might be partially mediated through PPARγ activity.

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Acknowledgments

This study has been funded by grants to RMH from the Key Project of National Science Foundation of China (30230380), the National Nature Science Foundation of China (39900072, 30670999, 30711120573), the High Tech Program (2002BA711A05 and 2001AA221201), the National Key Basic Research and Development Program (2002CB713703), the Shanghai Commission for Science and Technology (01JC14026), and by grant to Chen FL from Shanghai Commission for Science and Technology (07ZR14071) and from the National Nature Science Foundation of China (30870954). The authors also would like to thank Tang JF of Shanghai Institute of Endocrinology for ELISA technique in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Endocrinology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 12# Middle Urumqi Road, Shanghai, 200040, China

    F. L. Chen, Z. H. Yang, Y. Liu, L. X. Li, W. C. Liang, X. C. Wang, W. B. Zhou, Y. H. Yang & Ren-Ming Hu

  2. Institute of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China

    F. L. Chen, Z. H. Yang, Y. Liu, L. X. Li, W. C. Liang, X. C. Wang, W. B. Zhou, Y. H. Yang & Ren-Ming Hu

  3. Department of Endocrinology, No. 3 People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201900, China

    F. L. Chen

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  1. F. L. Chen
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Correspondence to Ren-Ming Hu.

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Chen, F.L., Yang, Z.H., Liu, Y. et al. Berberine inhibits the expression of TNFα, MCP-1, and IL-6 in AcLDL-stimulated macrophages through PPARγ pathway. Endocr 33, 331–337 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-008-9089-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-008-9089-3

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