Effects of Viniferin on NLRP3 Inflammasome in Atherosclerotic ApoE-Knockout Mice

The objective was to observe the effects of viniferin on NLRP3 inflammasome in unstable atherosclerotic plaques of Apo-E mice. To create an atherosclerotic unstable plaque model, six-week-old ApoE mice were fed a high-fat diet for 13 weeks and were then randomly assigned to the model group, Viniferin low, medium, and high dose group, and atorvastatin group; another 6-week-old C57BL/6J mice were set up as a blank control group. The blank control and model groups were given 0.9% saline gavage. Different doses of viniferin and atorvastatin tablets were given to the viniferin low, medium, and high-dose groups. The atorvastatin group, respectively. 13 weeks later, the mice were executed, and the plaque area was observed by HE staining. TC, TG, LDL-C, and HDL-C were measured by a biochemical auto-analyzer. The expression levels of NLRP3, caspase-1, and ASC were detected by Western blot, and NLRP3, caspase-1, ASC, IL-1 beta, and IL-18 mRNA were detected by RT-PCR. The expression levels of serum TC, TG, and LDL-C were increased (p < 0.05), HDL-C was decreased (p < 0.05), and the expression levels of NLRP3, caspase-1, ASC, IL-1 beta, and IL-18 were increased (p < 0.05). The expression levels of serum TC, TG, and LDL-C were decreased (P < 0.05), HDL-C was increased (p < 0.05), and the expression levels of NLRP3, caspase-1, ASC, IL-1 beta, and IL-18 were decreased (p < 0.05) in the viniferin dose group and atorvastatin group..Viniferin can inhibit the progression of cellular inflammatory responses and down-regulate the expression of NLRP3, which may be one of the molecular mechanisms of early treatment of atherosclerosis with viniferin medicine.