Berberine-sonodynamic therapy induces autophagy and lipid unloading in macrophage.

ABSTRACT: Impaired autophagy in macrophages accompanies the progression of atherosclerosis and contributes to lipid loading in plaques and ineffective lipid degradation. Therefore, evoking autophagy and its associated cholesterol efflux may provide a therapeutic treatment for atherosclerosis. In the present study, berberine-mediated sonodynamic therapy (BBR-SDT) was used to induce autophagy and cholesterol efflux in THP-1 macrophages and derived foam cells. Following BBR-SDT, autophagy was increased in the macrophages, autophagy resistance in the foam cells was prevented, and cholesterol efflux was induced. The first two effects were blocked by the reactive oxygen species scavenger, N-acetyl cysteine. BBR-SDT also reduced the phosphorylation of Akt and mTOR, two key molecules in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR si

SUBMITTER: Kou JY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5386349 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature