Triterpenoid saponins of Ilex pubescens against TNF-α induced inflammation and apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells via autophagy pathway.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

Triterpenoid saponins of Ilex pubescens (IPTS), the main active components of Ilex pubescens, has a therapeutic effect on atherosclerosis (AS). The ingredients in IPTS that could be intracellularly transported by human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) may play an essential role in AS. This study attempted to explore its mechanism from the perspectives of HUVECs' inflammation, apoptosis, and autophagy.

METHODS:

By using a tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-induced HUVECs injury model, cell viability and the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM1), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), cleave-caspase-3 and cleave-caspase-9, in combination with the results of flow cytometry, JC-1 and Hoechst 33258 staining were investigated to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic impact effects of IPTS on HUVECs. Afterwards, the expression of microtubule-associated proteins light chain 3II (LC3II) and sequestosome 1 (p62) was determined to test the effect of IPTS on autophagy. Finally, by adding an autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA), we investigated whether IPTS exerts anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects through the autophagy pathway.

KEY FINDINGS:

We firstly demonstrated that pretreatment with IPTS could increase the cell viability, maintain the cell morphology and reduce TNF-α-induced inflammation and apoptosis of HUVECs. Moreover, IPTS pretreatment was proved to raise the expression of LC3II /LC3I while decreasing the expression of p62, which indicated that IPTS could activate HUVECs' autophagy. IPTS has been shown for the first time to exert anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects through autophagy and thereby resisting TNF-α-induced inflammatory injury of HUVECs.

CONCLUSIONS:

This study preliminarily confirmed that IPTS ameliorated HUVECs' inflammation and apoptosis by increasing autophagy.

• Authors: Xuemei Yan, Xueying Shang, Zhiqiang Feng, Bingying Chen, Yurong Wu, Yuan Zhou, Yu Li, Lei Zhang
• Journal: The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology (J Pharm Pharmacol) Vol. 74 Issue 12 Pg. 1749-1757 (Nov 25 2022) ISSN: 2042-7158 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 36206186 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: [email protected].

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Saponins
• Triterpenes
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Topics

• Humans
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (pharmacology)
• Apoptosis
• Autophagy
• Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (drug effects)
• Ilex (chemistry)
• Inflammation (chemically induced, drug therapy)
• Saponins (pharmacology)
• Triterpenes (pharmacology)
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (adverse effects)