Tetrahydropalmatine Alleviates Hyperlipidemia by Regulating Lipid Peroxidation, Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress, and Inflammasome Activation by Inhibiting the TLR4-NF-κB Pathway

Figures

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  Figure 1. Effects of THP on the body weight and adipose index of golden hamsters with HLP induced by a high-fat diet. (a) Effect of THP on the body weight. (b) Effect of THP on the change in adiposity index. The results are expressed as the mean ± SD (n = 8). M versus NC, ∗∗∗P < 0.001; LD, MD, HD, and PC versus M #P < 0.05, ##P < 0.01, and ###P < 0.001.

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  Figure 2. Effects of THP on the serum and hepatic lipid contents of golden hamsters with HLP induced by a high-fat diet. (a) Serum lipid contents of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), total serum cholesterol (TC), total triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and free fatty acid (FFA). (b) Liver lipid index, total serum cholesterol (TC), total triglyceride (TG), and free fatty acid (FFA). The results are expressed as the mean ± SD (n = 8). M versus NC, ∗∗∗P < 0.001; LD, MD, HD, and PC versus M #P < 0.05, ##P < 0.01, and ###P < 0.001.

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  Figure 3. Effects of THP on oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation in golden hamsters with HLP induced by a high-fat diet. (a) Malondialdehyde (MDA) level, (b) superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, (c) glutathione (GSH) level, and (d) catalase (CAT) activity. The results are expressed as the mean ± SD (n = 8). M versus NC, ∗∗∗P < 0.001; LD, MD, HD, and PC versus M #P < 0.05, ##P < 0.01, and ###P < 0.001.

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  Figure 4. Effects of THP on the histological changes in liver tissues of golden hamsters with HLP induced by a high-fat diet. (a) Representative HE staining of golden hamster liver tissues in the NC, M, LD, MD, and HD groups. (b) Representative oil red O staining of golden hamster liver tissues in the NC, M, LD, MD, and HD groups (magnification: ×200, scale bar: 100 μM; magnification: ×400, scale bar: 50 μM).

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  Figure 5. Effects of THP on ER stress and inflammasome activation in golden hamsters with HLP induced by a high-fat diet. (a) The mRNA levels of caspase 12, GRP78, and CHOP in liver tissues were evaluated by qRT-PCR. (b) The protein levels of caspase 12, GRP78, and CHOP in liver tissues were measured by western blotting, with β-actin as a loading control. (c) Serum IL-18 was determined by ELISA, and the results are expressed as the mean ± SD (n = 8). (d) The protein levels of NLRP3, ASC, pro-IL-1β, and IL-1β in liver tissues were measured by western blotting, with β-actin as a loading control. The results of at least three independent experiments are shown as the mean ± SD. M versus NC, ∗∗∗P < 0.001; LD, MD, HD, and PC versus (M) #P < 0.05, ##P < 0.01, and ###P < 0.001.

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  Figure 6. Effects of THP on the TLR4-NF-κB signaling pathway of golden hamsters with HLP induced by a high-fat diet. (a) The protein levels of TLR4, MyD88, p-NF-κB, and NF-κB in liver tissues were measured by western blotting, with β-actin as a loading control. The results of at least three independent experiments are shown as the mean ± SD. M versus NC, ∗∗∗P < 0.001; LD, MD, HD, and PC versus M #P < 0.05, ##P < 0.01, and ###P < 0.001.