Study summary · research use only
BAM15 inhibits endothelial pyroptosis via the NLRP3/ASC/caspase-1 pathway to alleviate atherosclerosis
Plain-language summary
Paraphrased from the published abstract below — not a verdict on whether anything works.
In this study using ApoE-/- mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) and mouse primary aortic endothelial cells (MAECs) treated with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), the authors examined BAM15, a mitochondrial uncoupler, in relation to atherosclerosis (AS). BAM15 (5 mg/kg/day, subcutaneous) was reported to reduce atherosclerotic plaque formation, lipid deposition, and inflammation, and to lower mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) and oxidized mtDNA in the mouse model. In both in vivo and in vitro experiments, BAM15 was reported to inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome activation, reducing pyroptosis in endothelial cells; activation of the NLRP3/ASC/caspase-1 pathway by Nigericin partially reversed BAM15's effects, indicating a role for NLRP3 inflammasome inhibition in the observed reduction of endothelial pyroptosis.
Abstract
Atherosclerosis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease contributing to major cardiovascular events. This study aimed to investigate the effects of BAM15, a mitochondrial uncoupler, on regulating the NLRP3/ASC/caspase-1 signaling pathway to suppress endothelial cell pyroptosis and mitigate AS. AS was induced in ApoE-/- mice through a high-fat diet (HFD), and the therapeutic effects of BAM15 (5 mg/kg/day, s. c.) were evaluated. Histological analyses, including HE staining and oil red O staining, were used to assess aortic pathology and lipid deposition. Serum inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-18) were quantified by ELISA. Mouse primary aortic endothelial cells (MAECs) were treated with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) to simulate AS condition in vitro. Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) expression and oxidized (ox)-mtDNA content were detected by Mitosox staining and ELISA, respectively. Western blot was used to assess the expression of pyroptosis-related proteins, including GSDMD-NT, NLRP3, ASC, and cleaved-caspase-1. BAM15 reduced atherosclerotic plaque formation, lipid deposition, and inflammation, and diminished mtROS expression and ox-mtDNA content in the AS mouse models. In both in vivo and in vitro experiments, BAM15 markedly inhibited the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, leading to reduced pyroptosis in endothelial cells. Activation of the NLRP3/ASC/caspase-1 signaling pathway by Nigericin partially reversed the protective effects of BAM15, underscoring the pivotal role of NLRP3 inflammasome inhibition in endothelial pyroptosis suppression. BAM15 effectively inhibits endothelial cell pyroptosis by reducing mtROS production and ox-mtDNA release to suppress the NLRP3/ASC/caspase-1 signaling pathway, thereby alleviating AS in both in vivo and in vitro models.
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