Inflammatory diseases are caused by abnormal immune responses and are characterized by an imbalance of inflammatory mediators and cells. In recent years, the antiinflammatory activity of natural products has attracted wide attention. Rosmarinic acid (RosA) is a water-soluble phenolic compound that is an ester of caffeic acid and 3, 4dihydroxyphenyl lactic acid. It is discovered in many plants, like those of the Boraginaceae and Lamiaceae families. RosA has a wide range of pharmacological effects, including antioxidative, anti-apoptotic, anti-tumorigenic, and anti-inflammatory effects. The antiinflammatory effects of RosA have been revealed through in vitro and in vivo studies of various inflammatory diseases like arthritis, colitis, and atopic dermatitis. This article mainly describes the preclinical research of RosA on inflammatory diseases and depicts a small amount of clinical research data. The purpose of this review is to discuss the antiinflammatory effects of RosA in inflammatory diseases and its underlying mechanism.

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Aim: Inflammation and oxidative stress are now recognized to be two important contributing factors to the development of atherosclerosis (AS). NADPH oxidase-4 (Nox4)-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS), NF-κB and MAPK play crucial roles in these processes. Luteolin, a flavone rich in many plants, can interrupt the molecular expression and inhibit the progression of inflammation and oxidative stress. The present study was designed to test whether luteolin inhibits TNF-α-induced inflammation and oxidative stress in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and identify some of the mechanisms underlying these effects.

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is a key enzyme in the hydrolysis of TG-rich lipoproteins. To elucidate the physiological roles of LPL in lipid and lipoprotein metabolism, we generated transgenic rabbits expressing human LPL. In postheparinized plasma of transgenic rabbits, the human LPL protein levels were about 650 ng/ml, and LPL enzymatic activity was found at levels up to 4-fold greater than that in nontransgenic littermates. Increased LPL activity in transgenic rabbits was associated with as much as an 80% decrease in plasma triglycerides and a 59% decrease in high density lipoprotein-cholesterol. Analysis of the lipoprotein density fractions revealed that increased expression of the LPL transgene resulted in a remarkable reduction in the level of very low density lipoproteins as well as in the level of intermediate density lipoproteins. In addition, LDL cholesterol levels in transgenic rabbits were significantly increased. When transgenic rabbits were fed a cholesterol-rich diet, the development of hypercholesterolemia and aortic atherosclerosis was dramatically suppressed in transgenic rabbits. These results demonstrate that systemically increased LPL activity functions in the metabolism of all classes of lipoproteins, thereby playing a crucial role in plasma triglyceride hydrolysis and lipoprotein conversion, and that overexpression of LPL protects against diet-induced hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis. Lipoprotein lipase (LPL)1 plays a crucial role in lipid metabolism and transport by catalyzing the hydrolysis of triglyceriderich (TG-rich) lipoproteins such as chylomicrons and very low density lipoproteins (VLDL). Through the hydrolysis of TG in these particles, LPL converts these lipoproteins to denser lipoproteins such as chylomicron remnants, intermediate density lipoprotein (IDL), and low density lipoproteins (LDL) (1-3). This process generates free fatty acids (FFA), which are taken up and used for metabolic energy or stored as TG after reesterification and also results in the generation of surface remnants, which give rise to high density lipoproteins (HDL). It has been suggested that LPL influences not only plasma TG levels but also plasma HDL levels (4).LPL is mainly produced by mesenchymal cells such as adipose and muscle cells and then transported to the luminal surface of the vascular endothelium, where it is bound to heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPG). Small amounts of LPL are also present in other types of tissues, including the adrenals, brain, lung, and spleen (5). Furthermore, LPL is also expressed by macrophages and smooth muscle cells in atherosclerotic lesions (6, 7), suggesting that LPL modulates vascular functions and may be involved in atherogenesis. Elucidation of the precise roles of LPL in atherosclerosis has been compounded by the fact that LPL has multiple functions in lipoprotein metabolism through its catalytic properties and acts as a ligand for the LDL receptor-related protein (8) or a bridge between lipoproteins and HSPG (9). In humans, it has been found that familial L...

Glycolipid metabolic disorder is an important cause for the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Clarification of the molecular mechanism of metabolic disorder and exploration of drug targets are crucial for the treatment of T2DM.Methods: We examined miR-125a-5p levels in palmitic acid-induced AML12 cells and the livers of type 2 diabetic rats and mice, and then validated its target gene. Through gain- and loss-of-function studies, the effects of miR-125a-5p via targeting of STAT3 on regulating glycolipid metabolism were further illustrated in vitro and in vivo.Results: We found that miR-125a-5p was significantly decreased in the livers of diabetic mice and rats, and STAT3 was identified as the target gene of miR-125a-5p. Overexpression of miR-125a-5p in C57BL/6 mice decreased STAT3 level and downregulated the expression levels of p-STAT3 and SOCS3. Consequently, SREBP-1c-mediated lipogenesis pathway was inhibited, and PI3K/AKT pathway was activated. Moreover, silencing of miR-125a-5p significantly increased the expression levels of STAT3, p-STAT3 and SOCS3, thus activating SREBP-1c pathway and suppressing PI3K/AKT pathway. Therefore, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia and decreased liver glycogen appeared in C57BL/6 mice. In palmitic acid-induced AML12 cells, miR-125a-5p mimic markedly increased glucose consumption and uptake and decreased the accumulation of lipid droplets by regulating STAT3 signaling pathway. Consistently, miR-125a-5p overexpression obviously inhibited STAT3 expression in diabetic KK-Ay mice, thereby decreasing blood glucose and lipid levels, increasing hepatic glycogen content, and decreasing accumulation of hepatic lipid droplets in diabetic mice. Furthermore, inhibition of miR-125a-5p in KK-Ay mice aggravated glycolipid metabolism dysfunction through regulating STAT3.Conclusions: Our results confirmed that miR-125a-5p should be considered as a regulator of glycolipid metabolism in T2DM, which can inhibit hepatic lipogenesis and gluconeogenesis and elevate glycogen synthesis by targeting STAT3.