RESUMO
Mulberry (Morus Alba L., family Moraceae) leaf extracts have various biological effects including inhibition of oxidative modification of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), which is the major cause of atherosclerosis. Endothelial dysfunction elicited by oxidized LDL (Ox-LDL) has been implicated in atherogenesis. Lectin-like Ox-LDL receptor-1 (LOX-1), a cell-surface receptor for atherogenic Ox-LDL, appears to mediate Ox-LDL-induced inflammation, which may be crucial in atherogenesis. Previous studies revealed that expression of LOX-1 is highly inducible by proinflammatory stimuli, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta). Therefore, we examined whether mulberry leaf aqueous fractions inhibit LOX-1 expression induced by proinflammatory stimuli. Pretreatment of cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) with mulberry leaf aqueous fractions inhibited TNF-alpha- and LPS-induced expression of LOX-1 at both protein and mRNA levels in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. In contrast, mulberry leaf aqueous fractions did not affect TGF-beta-induced LOX-1 expression. Furthermore, mulberry leaf aqueous fractions inhibited TNF-alpha-induced activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) and phosphorylation of inhibitory factor of NF-kappaB-alpha (IkappaB-alpha) in a time- and concentration-dependent fashion. Thus, mulberry leaf aqueous fractions suppress TNF-alpha- and LPS-induced LOX-1 gene expression, by inhibiting NF-kappaB activation.
Assuntos
Células Endoteliais/efeitos dos fármacos , Células Endoteliais/metabolismo , Morus/química , NF-kappa B/metabolismo , Receptores Depuradores Classe E/genética , Fator de Necrose Tumoral alfa/farmacologia , Animais , Sequência de Bases , Bovinos , Células Cultivadas , DNA/genética , Expressão Gênica/efeitos dos fármacos , Humanos , Proteínas I-kappa B/metabolismo , Inibidor de NF-kappaB alfa , Estresse Oxidativo , Fosforilação , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Folhas de Planta/química , RNA Mensageiro/genética , RNA Mensageiro/metabolismo , Proteínas Recombinantes/farmacologiaRESUMO
Lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) is a receptor for oxidized LDL. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are nuclear receptors regulating transcription of various genes. We examined effects of PPAR ligands on LOX-1 expression and their transcriptional regulation in vascular endothelial cells. PPARalpha-specific ligands, such as fenofibrate and WY-14643, but not PPARgamma-specific ligands induced LOX-1 expression. Reduced expression of PPARalpha by antisense oligonucleotides directed to PPARalpha blocked fenofibrate-induced LOX-1 expression. Luciferase reporter gene assays with deletion and point mutations in the LOX-1 promoter revealed that transcriptional activity of LOX-1 gene by fenofibrate was localized in the -114/-106 GC box. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays with the radiolabeled GC box sequence showed inducible bands by PPARalpha ligands, which is competitively suppressed by unlabeled GC box motif and by an antibody to PPARalpha. In conclusion, PPARalpha appears to be one of the key regulators that induce LOX-1 expression, utilizing the GC box as a promoter.