Antirheumatic drug leflunomide attenuates atherosclerosis by regulating lipid metabolism and endothelial dysfunction via DHODH/AMPK signaling pathway.

ABSTRACT: The probability of cardiovascular events has been reported lower in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients treated with leflunomide. However, the anti-atherosclerotic and cardiovascular protective effects and metabolism of leflunomide are not explored. In this study, we assessed the potential benefits of leflunomide on atherosclerosis and revealed the underlying mechanism. ApoE^-/- mice were fed a western diet (WD) alone or supplemented with leflunomide (20 mg/kg, oral gavage, once per day) for 12 weeks. Samples of the aorta, heart, liver, serum, and macrophages were collected. We found that leflunomide significantly reduced lesion size in both en-face aortas and aortic root in WD-fed ApoE^-/- mice. Leflunomide also obviously improved dyslipidemia, redu

SUBMITTER: Jiang X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11302888 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature