Resveratrol Suppresses Oxidised Low-Density Lipoprotein-Induced Macrophage Apoptosis through Inhibition of Intracellular Reactive Oxygen Species Generation, LOX-1, and the p38 MAPK Pathway

Abstract

Background/Aim: Resveratrol (RSV) may have therapeutic potential for various diseases. Here we investigated the effect of RSV on oxidised low-density lipoprotein- (ox-LDL) induced apoptosis in RAW264.7 macrophages. Methods: Apoptosis of macrophages following incubation with ox-LDL (with or without RSV pre-treatment) was detected by flow cytometry. Western blotting was used to assess the protein expression of Bax, Bcl-2, and caspase-3 as well as ox-LDL receptor 1 (LOX-1) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was evaluated by 2', 7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate, and JC-1 probe was used to determine the mitochondrial transmembrane potential of cells. Results: Ox-LDL significantly reduced viability and increased the rate of apoptosis (P Conclusion: RSV suppresses ox-LDL-induced macrophage apoptosis. These beneficial effects might be exerted through inhibition of ROS generation, LOX-1, and the p38 MAPK signalling pathway.

Keywords

• Resveratrol
• Atherosclerosis
• Macrophage apoptosis
• ox-LDL
• MAPK