Berberine inhibits dyslipidemia in C57BL/6 mice with lipopolysaccharide induced inflammation

Background: inhibiting the action of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (pcsk9) on the low-density lipoprotein receptor (ldlr) has emerged as a novel therapeutic target for hypercholesterolemia. here we investigated the effect of berberine,natural plant extracts,on pcsk9-ldlr pathway in c57bl/6 mice with lipopolysaccharide (lps) induced inflammation. methods: forty female mice were divided into four groups (n =10): control,lps (5 mg/kg),lps + berberine 10 (5 mg/kg lps plus 10 mg/kg berberine),and lps + berberine 30 (5 mg/kg lps plus 30 mg/kg berberine). changes in the levels of blood lipids [total cholesterol (tc),triglyceride (tg),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (ldl-c) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (hdl-c)]; pro-inflammatory cytokines [interferon-γ (ifnγ),tumor necrosis factor α (tnfα),and interleukin-1α (il-1α)],8-isoprostane,hepatic expressions of pcsk9 and ldlr were determined. results: berberine pretreatment reduced the expression of hepatic pcsk9,decreased the plasma tc,tg,ldl-c,ifnγ,tnfα,il-1α,and 8-isoprostane concentrations; increased hdl-c level and ldlr expression in mice. conclusion: the present results suggest that berberine inhibits dyslipidemia in c57bl/6 mice with lps induced inflammation through regulating pcsk9-ldlr pathway. copyright © 2012 by institute of pharmacology polish academy of sciences.