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Endothelial dysfunction in small arteries and early signs of atherosclerosis in ApoE knockout rats.

ABSTRACT: Endothelial dysfunction is recognized as a major contributor to atherosclerosis and has been suggested to be evident far before plaque formation. Endothelial dysfunction in small resistance arteries has been suggested to initiate long before changes in conduit arteries. In this study, we address early changes in endothelial function of atherosclerosis prone rats. Male ApoE knockout (KO) rats (11- to 13-weeks-old) were subjected to either a Western or standard diet. The diet intervention continued for a period of 20-24 weeks. Endothelial function of pulmonary and mesenteric arteries was examined in vitro using an isometric myograph. We found that Western diet decreased the contribution of cyclooxygenase (COX) to control the vascular tone of both pulmonary and mesenteric arteries. These changes were associated with early stage atherosclerosis and elevated level of plasma total cholesterol, LDL and triglyceride in ApoE KO rats. Chondroid-transformed smooth muscle cells, calcifications, macrophages accumulation and foam cells were also observed in the aortic arch from ApoE KO rats fed Western diet. The ApoE KO rats are a new model to study endothelial dysfunction during the earlier stages of atherosclerosis and could help us improve preclinical drug development.

SUBMITTER: Berenji Ardestani S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7499202 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Endothelial dysfunction in small arteries and early signs of atherosclerosis in ApoE knockout rats.

Berenji Ardestani Simin S Eftedal Ingrid I Pedersen Michael M Jeppesen Per Bendix PB Nørregaard Rikke R Matchkov Vladimir V VV

Scientific reports 20200917 1

Endothelial dysfunction is recognized as a major contributor to atherosclerosis and has been suggested to be evident far before plaque formation. Endothelial dysfunction in small resistance arteries has been suggested to initiate long before changes in conduit arteries. In this study, we address early changes in endothelial function of atherosclerosis prone rats. Male ApoE knockout (KO) rats (11- to 13-weeks-old) were subjected to either a Western or standard diet. The diet intervention continue ...[more]

PMID: 32943715

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Project description:BACKGROUND:Sodium glucose co-transporter2 inhibitors reduce the incidence of cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus based on the results of recent cardiovascular outcome studies. Herein, we investigated the effects of long-term treatment with canagliflozin on biochemical and immunohistochemical markers related to atherosclerosis and atherosclerosis development in the aorta of apolipoprotein E knockout (Apo-E(-/-)) mice. METHODS:At the age of 5 weeks, mice were switched from normal to a high-fat diet. After 5 weeks, Apo-E(-/-) mice were divided into control-group (6 mice) treated with 0.5% hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and Cana-group (7 mice) treated with canagliflozin (10 mg/kg per day) per os. After 5 weeks of intervention, animals were sacrificed, and heart and aorta were removed. Sections stained with hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) were used for histomorphometry whereas Masson's stained tissues were used to quantify the collagen content. Immunohistochemistry to assess MCP-1, CD68, a-smooth muscle actin, MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 expression was carried out and q-PCR experiments were performed to quantify mRNA expression. RESULTS:Canagliflozin-group mice had lower total-cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose levels (P?<?0.01), while heart rate was significantly lower (P?<?0.05). Histomorphometry revealed that one in seven Cana-group mice versus four in six control mice developed atheromatosis, while aortic root plaque was significantly less, and collagen was 1.6 times more intense in canagliflozin-group suggesting increased plaque stability. Immunohistochemistry revealed that MCP-1 was significantly less expressed (P?<?0.05) in the aortic root of canagliflozin-group while reduced expression of a-actin and CD68 was not reaching significance (P?=?0.15). VCAM-1 and MCP-1 mRNA levels were lower (P?=?0.02 and P?=?0.07, respectively), while TIMP-1/MMP-2 ratio expression was higher in canagliflozin-group approaching statistical significance (P?=?0.07). CONCLUSIONS:Canagliflozin attenuates the progression of atherosclerosis, reducing (1) hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia, and (2) inflammatory process, by lowering the expression of inflammatory molecules such as MCP-1 and VCAM-1. Moreover, canagliflozin was found to increase the atherosclerotic plaque stability via increasing TIMP-1/MMP-2 ratio expression.

Dataset Information

Endothelial dysfunction in small arteries and early signs of atherosclerosis in ApoE knockout rats.

Publications

Endothelial dysfunction in small arteries and early signs of atherosclerosis in ApoE knockout rats.

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