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Updated: Sep 11, 2025

Isolation, Characterization, and Purification of Macrophages from Tissues Affected by Obesity-related Inflammation
Published on: April 3, 2017
Echinacoside suppresses macrophage lipid accumulation and attenuates atherosclerosis via the MDM2/PPARγ/ABCA1
Qin-Yi Zhou1, Jing Zhou2, Zhao-Bing Li1
1Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Key Laboratory for Arteriosclerology of Hunan Province, The Affiliated Nanhua Hospital, Department of Cardiology, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, Hunan, China.
Abstract:
Macrophage cholesterol efflux, a critical step in reverse cholesterol transport, plays a pivotal role in the attenuation of atherosclerosis. Echinacoside, a natural compound with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antitumor properties, has emerged as a potential therapeutic agent for atherosclerosis. However, the mechanisms underlying its anti-atherosclerotic effects remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of echinacoside on lipid accumulation in macrophage-derived foam cells and on atherosclerotic progression in apoE-/- mice. Our key findings indicated that echinacoside upregulated ABCA1 expression, enhanced macrophage cholesterol efflux, and reduced lipid accumulation by modulating MDM2/PPARγ signaling. Additionally, echinacoside alleviated atherosclerotic progression in high-fat diet-fed apoE-/- mice. MDM2 overexpression with pcDNA3.1-MDM2 eliminated the effects of echinacoside on ABCA1 and PPARγ upregulation, macrophage cholesterol efflux, and lipid accumulation. In conclusion, echinacoside inhibits macrophage lipid accumulation and alleviates atherosclerotic progression via the MDM2/PPARγ/ABCA1 signaling pathway.
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