Papain meliorates the monocyte-platelet aggregates formation-mediated inflammatory response in monocytes by up-regulating miRNA-146a transcription

Many studies have demonstrated that the formation of monocyte-platelet aggregates (MPAs) contributes to atherosclerosis, and is the major risk factor of cardiovascular events. Therefore, looking for the inhibitors of MPAs-activated monocytes would be of great significance. However, within our knowledge, little studies about this issue have been performed. In our previous study, papain exhibited an anti-inflammation effect by inhibiting MPAs-mediated NF-κB pathway activation of monocytes. The present study revealed that papain can suppress the MPAs-mediated expression of inflammatory mediators in activated monocytes by up-regulating miRNA-146a transcription. The findings may provide a new theory for papain in intervening the inflammatory process promoted by NF-κB pathway activation. This study is one part of our persistent research on the potential anti-AS effects of papain, and the results may be the unique findings of papain in the scope of anti-atherosclerosis through the inhibition of monocytes activation by the interaction of monocyte and platelet.