Luteolin Attenuates Foam Cell Formation and Apoptosis in Ox-LDL-Stimulated Macrophages by Enhancing Autophagy

Our previous studies demonstrated that luteolin, which is rich in flavones, has various biological properties and can exert anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic activities. However, its effect on ox-LDL-induced macrophage lipid accumulation and apoptosis has not been revealed.

This study aimed to explore the role of luteolin in ox-LDL-induced macrophage-derived foam cell formation and apoptosis and to delineate the underlying mechanism.

Murine RAW264.7 cells were stimulated with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) (50 µg/ml) for 24 h and then pretreated with 25 µM luteolin for another 24 h. The effects of luteolin on lipid accumulation in RAW264.7 cells induced by ox-LDL were assayed using Oil red O staining and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Apoptosis was confirmed by acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB) staining, flow cytometric analysis and the TUNEL assay. Immunofluorescence, Western blot and monodansylcadaverine (MDC) staining analyses were then used to further investigate the molecular mechanisms by which luteolin protects macrophages from ox-LDL-induced foam cell formation and apoptosis. 3-Methyladenine (3-MA), an autophagy inhibitor, was used as a positive control.

Treatment with 25 µM luteolin not only significantly attenuated ox-LDL-induced macrophage lipid accumulation but also decreased the apoptotic rate of RAW264.7 cells, the number of TUNEL-positive macrophages and the expression of Bax, Bak, cleaved caspase-9 and cleaved caspase-3. In addition, luteolin pretreatment significantly increased autophagosome formation and Beclin-1 activity, thus increasing the ratio of LC3-II/LC3-I. Moreover, these effects were abolished by 3-MA.

Taken together, these results highlight that luteolin treatment attenuates foam cell formation and macrophage apoptosis by promoting autophagy and provide new insights into the molecular mechanism of luteolin and its therapeutic potential in the treatment of atherosclerosis.