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

Figure 6

GDF-15 suppressed oxLDL-induced lipoprotein accumulation via inhibiting DC36 and LOX1. (a) Oil red O staining showed that GDF-15 inhibited lipoprotein accumulation in oxLDL-induced MDMs, but overexpression of both CD36 and LOX1 reversed the effect of GDF-15 treatment. (b) GDF-15 downregulated the expression of TLR4 induced by MDMs, while Neoseptin-3 reversed the inhibitory effect of GDF-15. (c–f) The levels of IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, and MMP9 in oxLDL-induced MDMs were significantly suppressed by GDF-15, while Neoseptin-3 treatment reversed the levels of these proinflammatory cytokines. Values are expressed as the mean ± standard deviation of three independent experiments as determined by one-way ANOVA test. vs. oxLDL-induced group; vs. oxLDL + GDF-15-treated group.

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