title: Shexiang Tongxin dropping pill attenuates atherosclerotic lesions in ApoE deficient mouse model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Shexiang Tongxin dropping pill (STDP) is a formulation of Traditional Chinese Medicine mainly used for clinical treatment of stable angina pectoris in China.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects and mechanisms of STDP treatment on atherosclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  ApoE deficient (ApoE(-/-)) mice were utilized to evaluate the effect of STDP treatment (30 mg/kg/day) on atherosclerotic lesions. Histopathological features of atherosclerotic lesions, serum levels of lipid proteins, parameters of oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory cytokines were measured by H&E staining, Masson's trichrome staining and ELISA, respectively. Real-time PCR analyses were performed to examine the aortic expression of atherosclerosis-associated microRNAs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The STDP treatment resulted in attenuated atherosclerotic lesion manifested by reduced lipid deposition, fibrosis and oxidative stress. It also led to increase in serum levels of GSH and SOD, decrease in MDA, decrease in CHO, TG, LDL, ox-LDL and increase in HDL, respectively. Additionally, the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α and γ-IFN were markedly reduced by STDP treatment. Furthermore, STDP treatment was associated with a significant reduction in the aortic expression of miR-21a, miR-132, miR-126a, miR-155 and increased expression of miR-20a.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results demonstrated for the first time that STDP attenuated atherosclerotic lesions in ApoE(-/-) mouse model. Moreover, STDP treatment exhibited multi-targeting effects on pathological, biochemical and molecular aspects of atherosclerosis implicating lipid regulation, fibrosis, inflammation and oxidative stress. Findings from the current study warrant further evaluation of the clinical application of STDP in atherosclerosis treatment.
authors.affiliation: Yueyang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Minqi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.affiliation: Yueyang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Chenglin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: Yueyang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China; Clinical Research Institute of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Jingang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Yueyang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China; Clinical Research Institute of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Peiwei
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Yueyang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China; Clinical Research Institute of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoye
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: Yueyang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China; Clinical Research Institute of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Qinbo
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Inner Mongolia Conba Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Yuling
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Institute of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China; Institute of Integrative Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Wenjian
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Yueyang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China; Clinical Research Institute of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: zhangteng501@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Teng
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Yueyang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China; Clinical Research Institute of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: chenyu6639@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D016207:Cytokines; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D035683:MicroRNAs; D014280:Triglycerides; C000600920:shexiang tongxin; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002784:Cholesterol; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005978:Glutathione
keywords: Atherosclerosis; Inflammation; Oxidative stress; Shexiang Tongxin dropping pill; microRNA