Objective: To discuss the intervention effect of ligustrazine on ox-LDL-induced foam cells from the perspective of reverse cholesterol transport.
Method: RAW264.7 cultured in vitro was induced with 20 mg x L(-1) ox-LDL to establish the foam cell model, and intervened with ligustrazine. The lipid accumulation in cells was observed by the oil red O dyeing. The changes in total cholesterol and cholesterol ester in the cells were detected with the colorimetric method. The fluorescent quantitative PCR and Western blot were used to detect the mRNA expressions of PPARgamma, LXRalpha and ABCA1.
Result: Ligustrazine could reduce total cholesterol and cholesterol ester in foam cells, inhibit the lipid accumulation, and increase the mRNA and protein expressions of PPARgamma, LXRalpha and ABCA1.
Conclusion: Ligustrazine can promote the reverse cholesterol transport by increasing the gene expressions of PPARgamma, LXRalpha and ABCA1.