Article date: May 2016
By: Huairui Shi, Xiaobo Mao, Yucheng Zhong, Yuzhou Liu, Xiaoqi Zhao, Kunwu Yu, Ruirui Zhu, Yuzhen Wei, Jianghao Zhu, Haitao Sun, Yi Mao, Qiutang Zeng in Volume 173, Issue 9, pages 1517-1528
Background and Purpose
Numerous in vitro studies have suggested that digoxin suppresses inflammation and alters lipid metabolism. However, the effect of dioxin on atherosclerosis is poorly understood. The present study was conducted to determine whether digoxin affects the development of atherosclerosis in a murine model of atherosclerotic disease.
Experimental Approach
Apolipoprotein E‐deficient mice maintained on a Western‐type diet were administered PBS (control), low‐dose digoxin (1 mg·kg−1· day−1) or high‐dose digoxin (2 mg·kg−1 · day−1) via i.p. injection for 12 weeks.
Key Results
Digoxin dose‐dependently reduced atherosclerotic lesion formation and plasma lipid levels (reductions of 41% in total cholesterol, 54% in triglycerides and 20% in low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol in the high‐dose digoxin‐treated group). Moreover, treatment with digoxin markedly attenuated IL‐17A expression and IL‐17A‐related inflammatory responses and increased the abundance of regulatory T cells (Tregs).
Conclusions and Implications
Our data demonstrate that digoxin acts as a specific antagonist of retinoid‐related orphan receptor‐γ to decrease atherosclerosis by suppressing lipid levels and IL‐17A‐related inflammatory responses.
DOI: 10.1111/bph.13453
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