Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2 Related Factor 2 Activator JC-5411 Inhibits Atherosclerosis Through Suppression of Inflammation and Regulation of Lipid Metabolism

• Published in: Frontiers in pharmacology Vol. 11; p. 532568
• Main Authors: Jiang, Xinhai, Li, Yining, Wang, Weizhi, Han, Xiaowan, Han, Jiangxue, Chen, Mingzhu, Zhang, Jing, Wang, Chenyin, Li, Shunwang, Luo, Jinque, Wang, Xiao, Xu, Yang, Xu, Yanni, Cheng, Jingcai, Si, Shuyi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Media S.A 16.11.2020
• Subjects: atherosclerosis; inflammation; JC-5411; nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2; Pharmacology; Phenethyl isothiocyanate; atherosclerosis; Phenethyl isothiocyanate; inflammation; nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2; JC-5411
• ISSN: 1663-9812; 1663-9812
• DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.532568

Phenethyl isothiocyanate is widely present in cruciferous vegetables with multiple biological effects. Here we reported the antiatherogenic effects and the underlying mechanisms of JC-5411 (Phenethyl isothiocyanate formulation) in vitro and in vivo . Luciferase reporter assay showed that JC-5411 increased the activity of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and antioxidant response element (ARE). JC-5411 treatment significantly increased the protein expression of Nrf2 and its downstream target gene hemeoxygenase 1 (HO-1) in liver of apolipoprotein E deficient (ApoE −/− ) mice. Importantly, JC-5411 treatment significantly reduced atherosclerotic plaque area in both en face aorta and aortic sinus when compared with model group in WD induced ApoE −/− mice. JC-5411 obviously decreased proinflammatory factors’ levels in serum of ApoE −/− mice, LPS stimulated macrophages and TNFα induced endothelial cells, respectively. JC-5411 significantly decreased the levels of total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) in both serum and liver of ApoE −/− mice and hyperlipidemic golden hamsters. Mechanism studies showed that JC-5411 exerted anti-inflammatory effect through activating Nrf2 signaling and inhibiting NF-κB and NLRP3 inflammasome pathway. JC-5411 exerted regulating lipid metabolism effect through increasing cholesterol transfer proteins (ABCA1 and LDLR) expression, regulating fatty acids synthesis related genes (p-ACC, SCD1 and FAS), and increasing fatty acids β-oxidation (CPT1A) in vivo . Furthermore, JC-5411 treatment had a favorable antioxidant effect in ApoE −/− mice by increasing the antioxidant related genes expression. Taken together, we conclude that JC-5411 as a Nrf2 activator has anti-inflammatory, rebalancing lipid metabolism, and antioxidant effects, which makes it as a potential therapeutic agent against atherosclerosis.