Bilberries exert an anti-atherosclerotic effect in lipid-loaded macrophages

Abstract: We hypothesized that the mechanism responsible for the anti-atherosclerotic action of bilberry extract (BE) is linked to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential, and investigated its direct effect on the regulation of apolipoprotein E (apoE) and cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) secretion from lipid-loaded macrophages. Human THP-1 macrophages were loaded with lipids by incubation with human copper-oxidized LDL (oxLDL) and then exposed to different concentrations of BE (1–5 µg mL−1) obtained from bilberries (mechanically homogenized and solubilized in ethanol). Cellular and secreted proteins, the phosphorylation level of NF-κB and protein kinase A (PKA) were quantified by Western blot and gene expression was evaluated by Real-time PCR. The results showed that BE induced in lipid-loaded macrophages has: (i) an antioxidant effect by reducing the expression of NADPH oxidase subunits, p22phox, p47phox and NOX4, (ii) an anti-inflammatory effect by diminishing the secretion of CRP, MCP-1 and IL-1β and (iii) cholesterol efflux by increasing the secretion of apoE and CETP and by reducing cellular cholesterol content. BE exerted these effects by inhibition of NF-κB and activation of PKA signaling pathways. Our study supports BE therapeutic administration to decrease oxidative and inflammatory stress by a molecular mechanism regulated by NF-κB and PKA signaling pathways in lipid-loaded macrophages.

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Bilberries exert an anti-atherosclerotic effect in lipid-loaded macrophages ; volume:9 ; number:3 ; year:2014 ; pages:268-276 ; extent:9 ; Open life sciences ; 9, Heft 3 (2014), 268-276 (gesamt 9)

Contributors, Places and Time

• Creator: Niculescu, Loredan ; Sanda, Gabriela ; Simionescu, Natalia ; Sima, Anca

Further information

• DOI: 10.2478/s11535-013-0268-8
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2409211604520.638999211919
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 15.08.2025, 7:38 AM CEST