桃红四物汤激活AMPK/mTOR信号通路改善大鼠下肢动脉粥样硬化OA

Objective The study aimed to analyze the effects and mechanisms of Taohong Siwu Decoction(桃红四物汤)on atherosclerotic in rats based on AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway.Methods Sixty clean male SD rats were selected,with 10 as the blank group and the remaining 50 were fed a high-fat diet and subjected to arterial intimal injury to establish an atherosclerosis model.They were divided into control group,Taohong Siwu Decoction low-dose group(L group),Taohong Siwu Decoction medi-um-dose group(M group),and Taohong Siwu Decoction high-dose group(H group)using a random number table method.Herbal intervention began in the 9th week after modeling.The blank and control groups were orally given 3 mL of distilled water daily,while the L,M and H groups were given the corresponding doses of the concentrated solution orally.The drug intervention lasted for 8 weeks.The degree of atherosclerotic plaques in the lower limb arteries of the rats,the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway and the differential expressions of vascular smooth muscle cell phenotypic transition-related proteins,such as α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)and osteopontin(OPN)were observed.Results Compared to that of the blank group,atherosclerosis in the L,M and H groups of rats was significantly formed,with foam cells visible in the intima.The expressions of p-AMPK and OPN were significantly up-regulated in the L,M and H groups,while the expressions of mTOR and α-SMA were significantly down-reg-ulated(P＜0.05).Conclusion Taohong Siwu Decoction can inhibit the proliferation of smooth muscle cells and slow down the progression of atherosclerosis by activating the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway,reducing the transformation of smooth muscle cell contraction phenotype to synthetic phenotype.