Lp-PLA2 inhibition prevents Ang II-induced cardiac inflammation and fibrosis by blocking macrophage NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Macrophage-mediated inflammation plays an important role in hypertensive cardiac remodeling, whereas effective pharmacological treatments targeting cardiac inflammation remain unclear. Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) contributes to vascular inflammation-related diseases by mediating macrophage migration and activation. Darapladib, the most advanced Lp-PLA2 inhibitor, has been evaluated in phase III trials in atherosclerosis patients.

[Suppression effect of Mai Shu on formation of atherosclerotic plaque of apolipoprotein E knock-out mice].

The research aimed to investigate the suppression effect of Mai Shu which contains hawthorn, hippophae, medlar, phytosterols（β-sitosterol, stigmasterol and campesterol）, β-glucan and lycopeneon formation of atherosclerotic plaque in apolipoprotein E knock-out (ApoE-/-) mice. Liquid chromatography-ultravioletmass spectrometry（LC-UV-MC） methods were used to analyze the main chemical composition of Mai Shu. Atherosclerotic mice models were established by high-fat diet.