Puerarin inhibits HDAC1-induced oxidative stress disorder by activating JNK pathway and alleviates acrolein-induced atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a common pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. Puerarin (Pue) is a Chinese herbal remedy used to prevent and treat AS. Here, this research investigated the effect of Pue on AS progression. ApoE−/− mice were induced with acrolein. Body weight, blood lipid index, inflammatory factors, mitochondrial oxidative stress, and lipid deposition were detected. IL-6 and TNF-α were detected by ELISA. Oil red staining and H&E staining were used to observe the aortic sinus plaque lesions. Serum expressions of inflammatory factors IL-6, TNF-a, SOD, GSH and MDA were detected by ELISA, the mRNA expression levels of HDAC1 in the aorta were detected by RT-qPCR, and IL-6 and TNF-α in the aorta were detected by immunohistochemistry. JNK, p-JNK, OPA-1, and HDAC1 were detected by Western blotting. Pue administration can effectively reduce lipid accumulation in AS mice induced by acrolein. Pue promoted the activity of SOD, GSH and MDA, and inhibited the formation of atherosclerotic plaques and the process of aortic histological changes. Pue reduced IL-6 and TNF-α. HDAC1 expression was down-regulated and p-JNK-1 and JNK protein expression was up-regulated. Pue reduces inflammation and alleviates AS induced by acrolein by mediating the JNK pathway to inhibit HDAC1-mediated oxidative stress disorder.