Quercetin attenuates atherosclerosis in ApoE KO mice by regulating macrophage cholesterol homeostasis / 中国药理学通报

ABSTRACT

Aim To investigate the protective effect of quercetin on atherosclerosis induced by high-fat diet in ApoE knockout ( ApoE KO) mice and its regulatory mechanism on cholesterol homeostasis of macrophages.Methods Forty-five adult female ApoE KO mice were randomly divicied into three groups nonnal diet ( ND ) group, high fat diet ( HFD) group and high fat diet + quercetin ( HFD + Qu) group and fed for 16 weeks.The level of serum lipid, the formation of atherosclerotic plaque and the expression of genes related to cholesterol homeostasis were detected.Macrophage cholesterol content and the expression level of cholesterol homeo- stasis-related proteins were detected.Results Quer cetin significantly reduced the atherosclerotic lesions and serum lipid levels in ApoE KO mice.Quercetin significantly suppressed macrophage foaming by upreg- ulating CYP27A1 expression，inhibiting CD36-mediated cholesterol uptake and and promoting LXHcx-ABCAl/ G1 pathway-dependent cholesterol efflux.Conclusions Quercetin plays a protective role in atherosclerosis through its regulatory effect on CYF27A1/ LXHa signaling pathway-mediated macrophage cholesterol homeostasis.