Identification and functional analysis of a biflavone as a novel inhibitor of transient receptor potential vanilloid 4-dependent atherogenic processes

Sci Rep. 2021 Apr 14;11(1):8173. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-87696-9.

Abstract

Atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory disease of large arteries, is the major contributor to the growing burden of cardiovascular disease-related mortality and morbidity. During early atherogenesis, as a result of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction, monocytes transmigrate into the aortic intimal areas, and differentiate into lipid-laden foam cells, a critical process in atherosclerosis. Numerous natural compounds such as flavonoids and polyphenols are known to have anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic properties. Herein, using a fluorometric imaging plate reader-supported Ca2+ influx assay, we report semi high-throughput screening-based identification of ginkgetin, a biflavone, as a novel inhibitor of transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4)-dependent proatherogenic and inflammatory processes in macrophages. We found that ginkgetin (1) blocks TRPV4-elicited Ca2+ influx into macrophages, (2) inhibits oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL)-induced foam cell formation by suppressing the uptake but not the binding of oxLDL in macrophages, and (3) attenuates oxLDL-induced phosphorylation of JNK2, expression of TRPV4 proteins, and induction of inflammatory mRNAs. Considered all together, the results of this study show that ginkgetin inhibits proatherogenic/inflammatory macrophage function in a TRPV4-dependent manner, thus strengthening the rationale for the use of natural compounds for developing therapeutic and/or chemopreventive molecules.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Atherosclerosis / drug therapy
  • Atherosclerosis / metabolism*
  • Biflavonoids / pharmacology*
  • Calcium / metabolism*
  • Cell Line
  • Foam Cells / cytology
  • Foam Cells / drug effects
  • Foam Cells / metabolism
  • High-Throughput Screening Assays
  • Lipoproteins, LDL / adverse effects
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Models, Biological
  • RAW 264.7 Cells
  • TRPV Cation Channels / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • TRPV Cation Channels / genetics

Substances

  • Biflavonoids
  • Lipoproteins, LDL
  • TRPV Cation Channels
  • Trpv4 protein, mouse
  • oxidized low density lipoprotein
  • ginkgetin
  • Calcium