title: Icariin inhibits atherosclerosis progress in Apoe null mice by downregulating CX3CR1 in macrophage.
abstract: Horny Goat Weed is a commonly used in Chinese herbal medicine. And it is used in multiple kinds of diseases including cardiovascular diseases. Icariin is the major component isolated from Horny Goat Weed. It is reported to have lipid-lowering effect. In atherosclerosis, icariin attenuate the enhanced prothrombotic state independently of its lipid-lowering effects. However, its detail mechanism is remaining unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect and mechanism of icariin on atherosclerosis. We performed gene expression profiling on icariin treated LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 and its control cells. Microarray analyses identified a list of genes significantly differentially expressed after icariin treated including downregulation of CX3CR1. Apoe null mice were assigned into 3 groups: control group, diet with 30 mg/kg/d icariin and diet with 60 mg/kg/d icariin. The results showed that icariin treatment significantly reduced lesion area and macrophage infiltration. Also icariin reduced CX3CR1 and CX3CL1 protein levels in the artery wall. In conclusion, icariin could be a potential anti-atherosclerosis agent by downregulating the expression of CX3CR1.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
authors.forename: Yao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Weihai International Biotechnology Research and Development Centre, Shandong University, Weihai, China.
authors.forename: Yun-Shan
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Weihai International Biotechnology Research and Development Centre, Shandong University, Weihai, China.
authors.forename: Shu-Liang
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Weihai International Biotechnology Research and Development Centre, Shandong University, Weihai, China.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, China; Weihai International Biotechnology Research and Development Centre, Shandong University, Weihai, China. Electronic address: jiaiguo@sdu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Ai-Guo
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Ji
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000073883:CX3C Chemokine Receptor 1; D054428:Chemokine CX3CL1 / Q000276:immunology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D000073883:CX3C Chemokine Receptor 1; D054428:Chemokine CX3CL1; C515539:Cx3cl1 protein, mouse; C471885:Cx3cr1 protein, mouse; D005419:Flavonoids; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine; C056599:icariin
keywords: Apoe null mice; Atherosclerosis; CX3CR1; Icariin