GDF-15 Suppresses Atherosclerosis by Inhibiting oxLDL-Induced Lipid Accumulation and Inflammation in Macrophages

Figure 4

GDF-15 suppressed oxLDL-induced proinflammatory cytokine productions in MDMs. (a) The results of ELISA assay showed that oxLDL treatment promoted MDMs secret IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, and MMP9, while GDF-15 inhibited oxLDL-induced proinflammatory cytokines releasing in MDMs. (b) After treated by oxLDL, the mRNA levels of IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, and MMP-9 were significantly upregulated but then suppressed by GDF-15 treatment. (c) The protein levels of IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, and MMP-9 were confirmed by western blotting assay, and the results showed that the protein levels of these proinflammatory cytokines in oxLDL-induced MDMs were obviously downregulated by GDF-15 treatment. Values are expressed as the mean ± standard deviation of three independent experiments as determined by one-way ANOVA test. , vs. control group; vs. oxLDL-induced group.

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