Figure 5.

TPL inhibits the secretion of inflammatory cytokines in macrophages. ApoE⁻/⁻ mice were given a high-fat diet from week 8 after birth and then treated with 25, 50 or 100 µg/kg TPL every 2 days. At week 16, macrophages from the different groups were prepared and stimulated with 25 µg/ml oxidized low-density lipoprotein. The secretion levels of the inflammatory cytokines (A) TNF-α, (B) IL-1β, (C) IL-6 and (D) IL-8 were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. *P<0.05 and **P<0.01 vs. untreated ApoE⁻/⁻ mice. ApoE, apolipoprotein E; TPL, triptolide; Ctrl., control (wild-type mice); TNF, tumor necrosis factor; IL, interleukin.