Variability in cholesterol content in serum and aortic tissue in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice is comparable in inbred (129/Sv) and outbred (mixed 129/Sv and C57BL/6) mice

Rationale: Endothelial inflammation is an early event in the development of atherosclerosis. The microRNA (miR)-146a showed anti-inflammatory effects in cultured endothelial cells. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic role of miR-146a in endothelial function and atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E (ApoE)-deficient mice. Methods and Results: The miR-146a was packaged into a multistage vector (MSV) that was conjugated with an E-selectin-targeting thioaptamer (ESTA) to form an ESTA-MSV microparticle. The ApoE-deficient mice were fed with Western diet and injected through tail vein with 15μg of miR-146a loaded ESTA-MSV microparticles or vehicle vectors biweekly for 12 weeks. The expressions of miR-146a in aortic tissue was increased by five times at two weeks after injection. However, the expressions of miR-146a in heart, lung, liver, spleen, kidney, and skeletal muscle were not increased. The acetylcholine-induced endothelium-dependent relaxations in both carotid arteries and aortas were significantly improved in mice from miR-146a treated group compared with vehicle group. In addition, the endothelium-dependent contractions of carotid arteries were also improved by miR-146a treatment. The en face oil red O staining of whole aortas showed the plaque area was decreased in miR-146a-treated mice. Application of miR-146a also decreased the plaque size, macrophages, and T-lymphocytes, but increased the collagen deposition and vascular smooth muscle cells in the sections of aortic roots. The PCR results showed that expressions of chemokine (C-C motif) ligand (CCL)-2, CCL-5, and CCL-8 were decreased by miR-146a. Conclusions: E-selectin-targeting delivery of miR-146a improves endothelial function and inhibits atherosclerosis.

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Activation of CREB Protein With Tabersonine Attenuates STAT3 During Atherosclerosis in Apolipoprotein E-Deficient Mice

Dose-Response ◽

10.1177/1559325820912067 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 155932582091206 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sen Shi ◽

Li Song ◽

Yong Liu ◽

Yanzheng He

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Nitric Oxide ◽

Apolipoprotein E ◽

Pathological Condition ◽

Aortic Tissue ◽

Altered Expression ◽

Creb Protein ◽

Treatment Groups ◽

Mediators Of Inflammation ◽

Deficient Mice

Objective: Atherosclerosis is a pathological condition of fat deposition in the arteries, which causes cardiovascular disorders. Management of atherosclerosis remains a challenge and conventional drugs used for its management have several limitations. This study evaluated the protective effect of tabersonine against atherosclerosis and assessed its molecular mechanism of action. Methods: Atherosclerosis was induced by feeding apolipoprotein E (ApoE)-deficient mice a high-fat diet. Mice were treated with 20 or 40 mg/kg of tabersonine intraperitoneally for the 12-week duration of the study. Atherosclerosis markers and nitric oxide were measured in the sera of ApoE-deficient mice. Mediators of inflammation and markers of oxidative stress were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Western blotting, quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, and immunohistochemistry analyses were conducted to determine the protein expression in aortic tissue. Results: The tabersonine-treatment groups had an improved lipid profile and enhanced liver function, compared to the ApoE treatment group. Tabersonine treatment resulted in reduced levels of nitric oxide, cytokines, and oxidative stress, compared to the ApoE group. The altered expression levels of protein inhibitor activated STAT-3 (PIAS3), signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT-3), and nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells inhibitor, alpha (IkBα) in ApoE-deficient mice were ameliorated by tabersonine treatment. Moreover, cAMP-response-element-binding (CREB) expression was elevated in aortic tissue of tabersonine treatment groups, compared to the ApoE group. Conclusion: These results suggested that tabersonine ameliorates the expression of STAT-3 by activating CREB protein in atherosclerotic ApoE-deficient mice.

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