Abstract:

Objective   To study the effect of VE-cadherin expressions in the development of atherosclerosis (AS) and the possible mechanism of Baicalin in anti-AS. Methods    ApoE-/- mice model of atherosclerosis (AS) was established. 20 male ApoE-/- mice were randomly divided into the model group and the baicalin treatment group. Ten  C57BL/6 mice were chosen in the normal control group. 50mg/(kg·d) baicalin was given to mice in treatment group, and  physiological saline was given to the mice in AS model group and normal control group for 4 weeks. After 12 weeks， the mice were put to death and the expression level of the serum inflammation biomarkers， aortic NF-κB and VE-cadherin were detected. Results   NF-κB of aortic artery cells in mice, VE-cadherin positive expression and inflammatory factor levels  were obviously increased compared with the normal group (P<0.01 or P<0.05). After the treatment of baicalin, aortic artery cells NF-κB in mice, VE-cadherin expression and inflammatory factors in the treatment group were significantly reduced (P<0.01 or P<0.05), which showed that VE-cadherin expression,  the NF-κB expression and inflammatory factor levels were positively related. Conclusion    Baicalin could have certain protective effect and the mechanism may be related to  reduction the NF-κB transcription activity, lower inflammatory factors and VE-cadherin, thereby reducing the injury of endothelial cell.

Key words:  Atherosclerosis; Inflammation; Baicalin; VE-cadherin; Nuclear Factor kappa B