Tanshinone IIA Attenuates Atherosclerosis in Apolipoprotein E Knockout Mice Infected with Porphyromonas gingivalis

Tanshinone IIA (TSA), a pharmacologically active component isolated from Danshen, may prevent cardiovascular diseases due to its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and anti-adipogenic effects. Porphyromonas gingivalis, a major periodontal pathogen, may contribute to the progression of atherosclerosis. Here, we studied the effects of TSA on atherosclerosis in ApoE^−/− mice with P. gingivalis infection. Eight-week-old ApoE^−/− mice were randomized to (a) phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), (b) P. gingivalis, and (c) P. gingivalis + TSA (60 mg kg⁻¹ day⁻¹). The mice were injected with (a) PBS, or (b) and (c) P. gingivalis 3 times per week for a total of 10 times. After 8 weeks, atherosclerotic risk factors in serum and in heart, aorta, and liver tissues were analyzed in all mice using Oil Red O, atherosclerosis cytokine antibody arrays, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), real-time PCR, and microRNA array. CD40, G-CSF, IFN-γ, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, MCP-1, MIP-3α, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and VEGF were attenuated by TSA in atherosclerosis cytokine antibody arrays. TSA-treated mice showed a significant reduction of C-reactive protein (CRP), ox-LDL, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12, and TNF-α in ELISA data. Real-time PCR analyses showed that TSA decreased the expression of CCL-2, CD40, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and MMP-2 in heart and aorta tissues. Moreover, hepatic CRP was downregulated by TSA, although FASN and HMG-CoA were not. The relative expressions of miR-146b and miR-155 were elevated by P. gingivalis infection and were downregulated by TSA treatment. These results suggest that TSA was a potential therapeutic agent that may have the ability to prevent P. gingivalis-induced atherosclerosis associated with anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects.