Chaiqi decoction ameliorates vascular endothelial injury in metabolic syndrome by upregulating autophagy.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to investigate the protective effect of the Chaiqi decoction on vascular endothelial injury in metabolic syndrome and to determine whether the underlying mechanism was associated with autophagy. METHODS: Chaiqi formula granules were administered to a rat model of metabolic syndrome established by feeding with a high-salt-sugar-fat diet (HSSFD). The drug-containing serum was used in a hyperglycemia cell model established using HUVECs cultured with palmitic acid PA. The influence of the Chaiqi decoction on metabolic syndrome-related vascular endothelial injury and autophagy was investigated. Autophagy flux was assessed in vitro by transfecting cells with GFP-mRFP-LC3 adenoviruses or incubating with DALGreen and DAPRed. RESULTS: The metabolic syndrome model rats displayed adiposity, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, hypertension, thickened intima, deposition of various forms of collagen and lipid droplets, downregulated levels of phosphorylated endothelial nitric oxide synthase and nitric oxide, upregulated expression of endothelin 1, and dysfunctional autophagy. All these abnormalities were ameliorated by administration of the Chaiqi decoction to the metabolic syndrome rats. Furthermore, the Chaiqi-containing serum could upregulate autophagy similarly to rapamycin, in a time-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: The Chaiqi decoction could ameliorate vascular endothelial injury by improving autophagy in metabolic syndrome.