Effects of Wenxiao Decoction on the expression of interleukin-6, intercellular adhesion molecular-1 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in experimental atherosclerotic rabbits.
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effects of different doses of Wenxiao Decoction on the expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in experimental atherosclerotic rabbits and to explore the mechanism by which it alleviates atherosclerosis.


METHODS
Sixty New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into six groups: a blank group, a model group, a Simvastatin group, and high-, medium-, and low-dosage Wenxiao Decoction groups. Except for those in the blank group, all rabbits were fed with a high-cholesterol diet. Carotid atherosclerosis was established by balloon-induced carotid artery endothelium injury in conjunction with the high-cholesterol diet. After 8 weeks, all animals were euthanized to evaluate levels of IL-6 and ICAM-1 expressions (by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay) and of MCP-1 (by immunohistochemistry staining).


RESULTS
The expressions of IL-6, ICAM-1, and MCP-1 were significantly increased in all groups except the blank group (P<0.05). However, the rabbits in the Wenxiao Decoction groups and the Simvastatin group showed significantly lower levels of IL-6, ICAM-1, and MCP-1 expression than those in the model group (P<0.05). The expressions of IL-6, ICAM-1, and MCP-1 in the highdosage Wenxiao Decoction group and the Simvastatin group were lower than those in the low-dosage Wenxiao Decoction group (P<0.05). The expression of MCP-1 in medium-dosage Wenxiao Decoction group was lower than that in the low-dosage group (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
High, medium, and low doses of Wenxiao Decoction can inhibit the expressions of IL-6, ICAM-1, and MCP-1, which may prevent and stabilize atherosclerotic plaques. There may be a direct relationship between dosage and therapeutic efficacy of Wenxiao Decoction.
Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai No. 6 People's Hospital, Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200233, China, huoqingping005@163.com.
Qing-ping
QP
Huo
Fang
F
Liang
Jin-pu
JP
Li
Yu-xin
YX
Wang
Han-yan
HY
Liu
D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D011817:Rabbits
D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D015850:Interleukin-6; C000595071:wenxiao; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1