Embelin inhibits abdominal aortic aneurysm through decreasing IL-6-induced STAT3 and NF-?B inactivation

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of embelin on abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). AAA model mice were induced by chronic infusion of 1,000 ng/kg/min Angiotensin II. AAA model mice were treated with 25, 50 or 100 mg/kg embelin for 28 days. Embelin inhibited tumor necrosis factor-a, interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, IL-18 and malondialdehyde (MDA) level activities, increased superoxide dismutase, glutathione (GSH) and GSH peroxidase level activities and inhibited MDA level activities in AAA mice Embelin suppressed the secretion of matrix metalloproteinase-9 protein expression, monocyte chemoattractant protein-2 activity and epithelial neutrophil-activating peptide expression levels in AAA mice. Embelin suppressed phosphorylated-signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3, phosphorylated-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and nuclear factor (NF)-?B protein expression in AAA mice. These findings indicate that embelin inhibits AAA through decreasing IL-6-induced STAT3, and NF-?B inactivation.