Isoliquiritigenin Inhibits Atherosclerosis by Blocking TRPC5 Channel Expression

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Cardiovascular Science
• Natural Products

Background:

• Isoliquiritigenin (ISL) is a flavonoid from licorice with known anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antidiabetic properties.
• The therapeutic potential of ISL in treating atherosclerosis remains largely unexplored.
• Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by plaque buildup in arteries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the pharmacological effects of ISL on atherosclerosis.
• To elucidate the mechanism by which ISL inhibits atherosclerosis progression.
• To evaluate ISL's impact on vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and related molecular pathways.

Main Methods:

• Utilized apolipoprotein E (ApoE) knockout mouse model for in vivo studies.
• Employed angiotensin II (Ang II)-stimulated vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) for in vitro experiments.
• Assessed atherosclerotic lesion size, serum lipid profiles, and expression of TRPC5 and PCNA.

Main Results:

• ISL treatment attenuated atherosclerotic lesions and reduced serum lipid levels in ApoE knockout mice.
• ISL inhibited Ang II-induced proliferation of VSMCs in a dose-dependent manner.
• ISL suppressed Ang II-induced expression of TRPC5 and PCNA in VSMCs.

Conclusions:

• ISL demonstrates significant inhibitory effects against atherosclerosis.
• ISL's mechanism involves the inhibition of TRPC5 expression and VSMC proliferation.
• ISL holds promise as a therapeutic agent for cardiovascular protection against atherosclerosis.