title: Rubus coreanus inhibits oxidized-LDL uptake by macrophages through regulation of JNK activation.
abstract: Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) contributes to atherosclerosis in part by being taken up into macrophages via scavenger receptors and leading to foam cell formation. Herbal compounds that have been used to treat blood stasis (a counterpart of atherosclerosis) for centuries include extracts of medicinal plants in the Rosaceae and Leguminosae families. In this study, we investigated the effect of the unripe Rubus coreanus (Korean black raspberry) fruit extract on oxLDL uptake by murine macrophage cells. In the presence of Rubus coreanus extract (RCE), Dil-labeled oxLDL uptake was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner. SP600125, a specific JNK inhibitor, inhibited the uptake of Dil-oxLDL into macrophages. RCE also inhibited JNK phosphorylation in a time- and dose-dependent manner in macrophages treated with oxLDL. These results indicate that among the mitogen-activated protein kinases, JNK phosphorylation is inhibited by RCE, which is likely the mechanism underlying the RCE-induced inhibition of oxLDL uptake by macrophages.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju,  Korea.
authors.forename: Bidur
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bhandary
authors.forename: Geum-Hwa
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Byung-Ok
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: So
authors.forename: Sun-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Min-Gul
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ji-Wung
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Ji-Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Hee-Kwon
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyung-Ryong
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Soo-Wan
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Chae
authors.forename: Han-Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Chae
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005487:Foam Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005638:Fruit; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000378:metabolism*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D010766:Phosphorylation; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D027824:Rosaceae
chemical_list: D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D010936:Plant Extracts; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases