S-EPMC4180453 - The complementary effects of atorvastatin and exercise treatment on the composition and stability of the atherosclerotic plaques in ApoE knockout mice. - OmicsDI

Unknown

Dataset Information

The complementary effects of atorvastatin and exercise treatment on the composition and stability of the atherosclerotic plaques in ApoE knockout mice.

ABSTRACT:

Aim

This study aimed to investigate the effects of combined atorvastatin and exercise treatment on the composition and stability of the atherosclerotic plaques in apolipoproteinE (apoE) knockout mice.

Methods

Forty male, apoE-/- mice were fed a high-fat diet for 16 weeks. Thereafter, while maintained on high-fat diet, they were randomized into four (n?=?10) groups for 8 additional weeks: Group CO: Control. Group AT: Atorvastatin treatment (10 mg/Kg/day). Group EX: Exercise-training on treadmill. Group AT+EX: Atorvastatin and simultaneous exercise training. At the study's end, plasma cholesterol levels, lipids and triglycerides were measured, along with the circulating concentrations of matrix-metalloproteinases (MMP-2,3,8,9) and their inhibitors (TIMP-1,2,3). Plaque area and the relative concentrations of collagen, elastin, macrophages, smooth muscle cells, MMP-2,3,8,9 and TIMP-1,2,3 within plaques were determined. Lastly, MMP activity was assessed in the aortic arch.

Results

All intervention groups showed a lower degree of lumen stenosis, with atheromatous plaques containing more collagen and elastin. AT+EX group had less stenosis and more elastin compared to single intervention groups. MMP-3,-8 -9 and macrophage intra-plaque levels were reduced in all intervention groups. EX group had increased TIMP-1 levels within the lesions, while TIMP-2 was decreased in all intervention groups. The blood levels of the above molecules increased during atherosclerosis development, but they did not change after the therapeutic interventions in accordance to their intra-plaque levels.

Conclusion

The two therapeutic strategies act with synergy regarding the extent of the lesions and lumen stenosis. They stabilize the plaque, increasing its content in elastin and collagen, by influencing the MMP/TIMP equilibrium, which is mainly associated with the macrophage amount. While the increased MMP-2,-3,-8 -9, as well as TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 circulating levels are markers of atherosclerosis, they are not correlated with their corresponding concentrations within the lesions after the therapeutic interventions, and cannot serve as markers for the disease development/amelioration.

SUBMITTER: Moustardas P

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4180453 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

altmetric image

Publications

The complementary effects of atorvastatin and exercise treatment on the composition and stability of the atherosclerotic plaques in ApoE knockout mice.

Moustardas Petros P Kadoglou Nikolaos P E NP Katsimpoulas Michalis M Kapelouzou Alkistis A Kostomitsopoulos Nikolaos N Karayannacos Panayotis E PE Kostakis Alkiviadis A Liapis Christos D CD

PloS one 20140929 9

<h4>Aim</h4>This study aimed to investigate the effects of combined atorvastatin and exercise treatment on the composition and stability of the atherosclerotic plaques in apolipoproteinE (apoE) knockout mice.<h4>Methods</h4>Forty male, apoE-/- mice were fed a high-fat diet for 16 weeks. Thereafter, while maintained on high-fat diet, they were randomized into four (n = 10) groups for 8 additional weeks: Group CO: Control. Group AT: Atorvastatin treatment (10 mg/Kg/day). Group EX: Exercise-trainin ...[more]

Similar Datasets

Project description:Atherosclerosis is a chronic disease comprising intima malfunction and arterial inflammation. Recent studies have demonstrated that autophagy could inhibit inflammatory response in atherosclerosis and exert subsequent atheroprotective effects. Our previous study also demonstrated the role of autophagy in the inhibition of inflammation by atorvastatin in vitro. Therefore, in the present study, we aimed to determine whether atorvastatin could upregulate autophagy to inhibit inflammatory cytokines secretion, lipid accumulation, and improve vulnerable plaque stability, both in vitro and in vivo. First, we established a vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque mouse model through partial ligation of left common carotid artery and left renal artery to explore the effect of atorvastatin on vulnerable plaques. The results showed that atorvastatin could enhance the stability of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques and reduce the lesion area in the aorta. Atorvastatin could also inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome activation and inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1?, TNF-?, and IL-18 secretion in vivo. Atorvastatin treatment upregulated the expression of autophagy-related protein microtubule-associated protein light chain (LC3B) and downregulated the expression of SQSTM1/p62, which suggested that autophagy was activated in vulnerable plaques. Transmission electron microscopy further demonstrated the atorvastatin-induced increase in autophagy activity in vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques. We employed oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) to stimulate RAW264.7 cells with atorvastatin, which showed that atorvastatin could attenuate lipid deposition, ameliorate inflammation, inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and enhance autophagy in vitro. All these beneficial effects were abolished by 3-methyladenine treatment, an autophagy inhibitor. Atorvastatin also significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of mTOR, which strongly suggested the involvement of the mTOR pathway. Our study proposed a new role for atorvastatin as an autophagy inducer to exert anti-inflammatory and atheroprotective effects, to stabilize vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques.