抗氧化维生素减轻高脂饮食兔动脉粥样硬化及保护DNA甲基化的作用

The antioxidative vitamins reduce atherosclerosis and protect DNA methylation of highfat diet rabbits

目的探讨抗氧化维生素对高脂饮食兔动脉粥样硬化（ＡＳ）及ＤＮＡ甲基化水平的影响。方法用显微镜比较兔高脂饮食组，高脂抗氧化维生素组主动脉ＡＳ的程度并用高效液相色谱层析（ＨＰＬＣ）方法分析脾脏ＤＮＡ的甲基化水平。结果高脂抗氧化维生素组较高脂饮食组兔动脉平滑肌细胞及泡沫细胞的增生明显减少，ＡＳ明显减轻，而且脾脏ＤＮＡ的甲基化水平明显增高。结论抗氧化维生素有保护ＤＮＡ甲基化的作用，并可能通过此作用而影响基因转录，减轻ＡＳ。

Objective To study the effect of antioxidative vitamins on highfat diet rabbits in atherosclerosis and DNA methylation level. Methods The microscope and the HPLC was used to compare the atherosclerosis and the DNA methylation level in the highfat diet group and the antioxidative vitamins highfat diet group of rabbit spleen. Results The methylation level was higher and the atherosclerosis level was lower in antioxidative vitamins highfat diet group of rabbits than that in highfat diet group. And also there was a much less hyperplasia of smooth muscle cells and foam cells in the former group. Conclusion The results suggested that antioxidative vitamins may effect the gene transcription by protecting DNA methylation, and may therefore reduce atherosclerosis. This may be another pathway of antioxidative vitamin reducing atherosclerosis caused by highfat diet.