Polydatin attenuates atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice: Role of reverse cholesterol transport

Polydatin has been recently shown to possess extensive cardiovascular pharmacological activities. However, its protective effect against atherosclerosis in vivo remains poorly understood. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential effects of polydatin on high fat diet (HFD)-induced atherosclerosis using ApoE^-/- mice, and explore the underlying mechanisms involved, especially focusing on reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) regulation.

after 12 weeks treatment, serum samples, mouse aorta, liver, peritoneal macrophages were collected to determine lipid profiles, atherosclerotic lesions, hepatic steatosis, foam cell formation and expression of related molecules. RAW264.7 macrophages were used to study cholesterol efflux.

Polydatin improved serum lipid profiles, attenuated atherosclerosis and hepatic steatosis. Furthermore, polydatin may facilitate RCT by stimulating cholesterol efflux through ATP-binding cassette transporters (ABC) A1, ABCG1 and scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI) in macrophages, increasing serum levels of high density lipoprotein and apolipoprotein A-I, promoting of SR-BI-mediated cholesterol uptake of liver, increasing secretion of cholesterol into bile by ABCG5/ABCG8 and improving cholesterol metabolism by CYP7A1 pathway. Polydatin also regulated the protein expressions of hepatic fatty acid synthase and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α. Additionally, polydatin reduced hepatic and aortic reactive oxygen species generation, normalized activities of antioxidant enzymes and increased protein expressions of NADPH-oxidase (NOX) 2 and NOX4 in liver. Polydatin also prevented hepatic and aortic inflammation as evidenced by the reduced macrophage infiltration and mRNA expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 in both aorta and liver.

These findings indicated that polydatin can inhibit atherosclerosis through enhancement of overall RCT. In addition, anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effect of polydatin may also contribute to its inhibitory effects on atherosclerosis.