title: Effects of andrographolide on the activation of mitogen activated protein kinases and nuclear factor-κB in mouse peritoneal macrophage-derived foam cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effect of andrographolide on the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and expression of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in macrophage foam cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  The mouse peritoneal macrophages were cultured in the media in the presence of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), ox-LDL+andrographolide, or neither (control). The phosphorylation of MAPK molecules (p38MAPK, JNK, ERK1/2) and the expressions of NK-κB p65 were examined by Western blot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As compared with cells in the control group, the expressions of phospho-p38 and NF-κB p65 were increased in the cells cultured with either ox-LDL or ox-LDL+andrographolide (P<0.01), but attenuated significantly in the presence of ox-LDL+ andrographolide when compared with ox-LDL (P<0.05). The phospho-JNK increased in the presence of either ox-LDL or ox-LDL+andrographolide when compared with control cells (P<0.01), but no significant difference existed between ox-LDL and ox-LDL+andrographolide (P>0.05). The expression of phospho-ERK1/2 was increased in the presence of ox-LDL compared with the control cells (P<0.01), but no significant differences existed between the cells cultured in the presence of ox-LDL+andrographolide and the control medium (P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Andrographolide could inhibit the activation of ERK1/2, p38MAPK and NK-κB induced by ox-LDL in macrophage foam cells, which might be one of its mechanisms in preventing atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Fu-xing
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Shu-sheng
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D005487:Foam Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000378:metabolism; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D004224:Diterpenes; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D016328:NF-kappa B; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; C030419:andrographolide; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases