Protective effe cts and potential mechanism of To ngxinluo on mouse with thromboangiitis obliterans induced by sodium laurate

Background: In China, Tongxinluo (TXL) has been widely used for the treatment of cardio-cerebrovascular diseases. Studies have shown that TXL has anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic properties.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the inhibitory effects of TXLon sodium laurate-induced thromboangiitis obliterans(TAO) andthe underlying mechanisms.

Methods: A TAO mousemodel was established by injectingsodium laurate into the femoral artery. After treatment with compound danshen tablet(CDT, 0.52g/kg) and various doses of TXL (0.38, 0.75, 1.5g/kg),the recovery of blood flow in the lower limbs of mice was detected by laser Dopplerimaging. Pathological changes and thrombosis ofthe femoral arterywere observed by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Levels of thromboxane B2(TXB ₂), 6-keto-prostaglandin F _1α(6-keto-PGF _1α), endothelin-1 (ET-1),IL(interleukin) -1β and IL-6 were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Levels of activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT), thrombin time (TT) and fibrinogen (FIB) were detected by a fully automated biochemical analyzer. The expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the femoral artery wall was determined by immunohistochemical analysis.

Results: TXL promoted the restoration of blood flow in the lower limbs, reduced the area of thrombosis in the femoral artery, and alleviated the pathological changes in the femoral artery wall. TXL also decreased the expression of TXB ₂and ET-1 and increased 6-keto-PGF _1α. TXL reduced the levels of IL-6 and IL-1βand significantly inhibited the overexpression of TNF-αand iNOS in the femoral artery wall. Moreover, TXL prolonged APTT, PT, TT, and reduced FIB levels.

Conclusion: TXLhas a protective effect on TAO mice, and themechanism may involvein theinhibition of thrombosis and TAO-related inflammatory responses.Therefore, TXLmay be a potential drug for the treatment of TAO in conventional medicine.