摘要
To observe the effects of simvastatin on nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kB)-DNA binding activity and on the expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in atherosclerotic plaque in rabbits and to explore the anti-atherosclerotic properties beyond its lipid-lowering effects. Thirty-six New Zealand male rabbits were randomly divided into low-cholesterol group (LC), high- cholesterol group (HC), high-cholesterol+ simvastatin group (HC+S) and then were fed for 12 weeks. At the end of the experiment, standard enzymatic assays, electrophoretic mobility shift as- say (EMSA), immunohistochemical staining, and morphometry were performed to observe serum lipids, NF-kB-DNA binding activity, MCP-1 protein expression, intirna thickness and plaque area of aorta respectively in all three groups. Our results showed that the serum lipids, NF-kB-DNA binding activity, expression of MCP-1 protein, intima thickness, and plaque area of aorta in the LC and HC+S groups were significantly lower than those in the HC group (P〈0.05). There was no significant difference in the serum lipids between the LC and HC+S groups (P〉0.05), but the NF-kB-DNA binding activity, the expression of MCP-1 protein and the intirna thickness and plaque area of aorta in the HC+S group were significantly decreased as compared to the LC group (P〈0. 05). This study demonstrated that simvastatin could decrease atherosclerosis by inhibiting the NF-kB-DNA binding activity and by reducing the expression of MCP-1 protein.
To observe the effects of simvastatin on nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kB)-DNA binding activity and on the expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in atherosclerotic plaque in rabbits and to explore the anti-atherosclerotic properties beyond its lipid-lowering effects. Thirty-six New Zealand male rabbits were randomly divided into low-cholesterol group (LC), high- cholesterol group (HC), high-cholesterol+ simvastatin group (HC+S) and then were fed for 12 weeks. At the end of the experiment, standard enzymatic assays, electrophoretic mobility shift as- say (EMSA), immunohistochemical staining, and morphometry were performed to observe serum lipids, NF-kB-DNA binding activity, MCP-1 protein expression, intirna thickness and plaque area of aorta respectively in all three groups. Our results showed that the serum lipids, NF-kB-DNA binding activity, expression of MCP-1 protein, intima thickness, and plaque area of aorta in the LC and HC+S groups were significantly lower than those in the HC group (P〈0.05). There was no significant difference in the serum lipids between the LC and HC+S groups (P〉0.05), but the NF-kB-DNA binding activity, the expression of MCP-1 protein and the intirna thickness and plaque area of aorta in the HC+S group were significantly decreased as compared to the LC group (P〈0. 05). This study demonstrated that simvastatin could decrease atherosclerosis by inhibiting the NF-kB-DNA binding activity and by reducing the expression of MCP-1 protein.
基金
This project was supported by a grant from the NationalNatural Sciences Foundation of China (No .30470713)