丁苯酞对ApoE~(-/-)小鼠动脉粥样硬化及主动脉壁VCAM-1表达的影响

目的:观察丁苯酞对ApoE~(-/-)小鼠主动脉粥样斑块形成及血管细胞黏附分子(VCAM)-1表达影响,以探讨其抗动脉粥样硬化的可能机制,为其临床应用提供理论依据和指导意义。方法:90只6周龄雄性Apo~(E-/-)小鼠随机分为3组,高脂饲喂建立动脉粥样硬化模型,同时灌胃给予丁苯酞100及200 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)进行干预,模型组给予等量生理盐水灌胃。30只同龄雄性野生型C57BL/6J小鼠给予普通饲料喂养作为正常对照组。各组在18周龄及30周龄时分别处死15只动物。实验过程中记录各组小鼠体重变化及进食进水量。采用全自动生化仪检测18周龄及30周龄各组小鼠血脂水平;ELISA法检测血清ox-LDL、CRP、TNF-α及IL-6含量;取主动脉根部石蜡包埋切片行HE染色进行病理学检查,计算斑块相对面积;取胸主动脉进行real-time PCR检测VCAM-1的mRNA含量,同时用Western blot法检测VCAM-1的蛋白水平。结果:与对照组相比,模型组小鼠18周龄及30周龄时体重、血脂及炎症因子均显著升高,且均发生动脉粥样硬化斑块,且VCAM-1的mRNA及蛋白表达显著增加;丁苯酞对模型小鼠体重及进食进水量无影响;但丁苯酞100和200 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)剂量组血脂水平显著降低;血清ox-LDL、CRP、TNF-α及IL-6含量亦显著减少;主动脉根部粥样斑块面积显著减小;胸主动脉VCAM-1的mRNA水平及蛋白表达均显著下调。结论:丁苯酞可延缓高脂饮食诱导的Apo~(E-/-)小鼠动脉粥样硬化的发生,其机制与其同时降低血脂及抑制炎症的发生,进而降低主动脉VCAM-1有关。

Effects of butylphthalide on atherosclerosis lesion and VCAM-1 expression in aortic wall of ApoE-/- mice

AIM: To observe the protective effects of butylphthalide on atherosclerosis lesion and vascular cell adhesion molecular-1 (VCAM-1) expression in the aortic wall of ApoE^-/- mice, and to explore the possible mechanism underlying these beneficial effects.METHODS: Male ApoE^-/- mice at 6 weeks of age (n=90) were randomly divided into 3 groups. Thirty ApoE^-/- mice fed with high-fat diet and treated with saline simultaneously were defined as model group. Thirty ApoE^-/- mice fed with high-fat diet and treated with butylphthalide (100 and 200 mg·kg^-1·d^-1) were defined as treatment groups. Thirty wild-type C57BL/6J mice treated with saline were defined as control group. Fifteen mice in each group were sacrificed both at the ages of 18 and 30 weeks. The body weight, food intake and water intake were monitored weekly through the experiment. The lipid profiles were determined both at 18 and 30 weeks of age. Aortic roots were stained with hematoxylin and eosin for pathological examination. Serum ox-LDL, CRP, TNF-α and IL-6 were examined by ELISA. The expression of VCAM-1 at mRNA and protein levels was determinate by real-time PCR and Western blot in the thoracic aortas. RESULTS: Compared with control group, at 18 and 30 weeks of age, the body weight, serum lipid profiles and inflammatory factors were increased, while the atherosclerotic plaques were raised. The mRNA and protein levels of VCAM-1 were up-regulated. However, serum lipid levels in butylphthalide treatment groups (both at doses of 100 and 200 mg·kg^-1·d^-1) were decreased significantly. Serum ox-LDL, CRP, TNF-α and IL-6 were also decreased by butylphthalide treatment. Furthermore, atherosclerotic plaque areas in the aortic roots were reduced by butylphthalide treatment. In addition, the expression of VCAM-1 at mRNA and protein levels in the thoracic aortas was down-regulated by butylphthalide treatment.CONCLUSION: Butylphthalide delays the occurrence of high-fat diet-induced atherosclerosis and down-regulates the expression of VCAM-1 in the ApoE^-/- mice, which may be due to its alleviative effects on hyperlipidemia and inflammation.