Moxibustion at CV4 alleviates atherosclerotic lesions through activation of the LXRα/ABCA1 pathway in apolipoprotein-E-deficient mice

Objectives: To investigate the anti-atherogenic effect of moxibustion and whether it is mediated through the reverse cholesterol transport process. Methods: 8-week-old male apolipoprotein E deficient (ApoE−/− knockout) mice were randomly divided into two groups (n=10 per group): atherosclerosis (AS) and AS plus moxibustion (AS+M). C57BL/6J mice of the same background (n=10) were selected as controls. Mice in the AS+M group received indirect moxibustion with an ignited moxa stick held over CV4. Mice of the AS and control groups were restrained in the same holder with an unlit moxa stick held over CV4. All treatments were performed for 20 min per day, 6 days per week for 12 weeks. After the treatment, the mice were euthanased and their serum lipids were measured. The aortic roots and thoracic aortas were collected for haematoxylin and eosin and red oil O staining, respectively, to analyse the atherosclerotic lesions. Expression of adenosine triphosphate binding cassette (ABCA)A1/G1 and liver X receptor α (LXRα) in the thoracic aorta were examined with Western blotting. Results: The moxibustion-treated (AS+M) mice showed a significantly lower plaque area percentage in the aortic root and thoracic aorta, and higher expression of LXRα and ABCA1 in the thoracic aorta compared with the AS mice. No significant differences were found in average lipid area percentage in the thoracic aorta, or ABCG1 expression in the thoracic aorta, between mice in the AS+M and AS groups. Conclusion: Moxibustion treatment at CV4 suppressed the progression of atherosclerotic lesions in ApoE−/− mice. The anti-atherogenic effect of moxibustion may be achieved by: (1) regulation of lipid metabolism, and thus prevention of lipid accumulation; and (2) upregulation of LXRα- and ABCA1-mediated cholesterol efflux in the lesion area.

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Amelioration of atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice by inhibition of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2

Clinical & Investigative Medicine ◽

10.25011/cim.v36i1.19403 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 36 (1) ◽

pp. 32 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Hui Zhang ◽

Jin-Ying Zhang ◽

Tong-Wen Sun ◽

De-Liang Shen ◽

Fei He ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Phospholipase A2 ◽

Apolipoprotein E ◽

Inflammatory Cytokines ◽

Negative Control ◽

Therapeutic Effects ◽

Inflammatory Gene Expression ◽

Plaque Area ◽

Atherosclerotic Lesions ◽

Deficient Mice ◽

Pro Inflammatory Cytokines

Purpose: Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) is involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, especially in advanced plaques. In the present study, the abilities of darapladib, a selective Lp-PLA2 inhibitor, and lentivirus-mediated Lp-PLA2 silencing on inflammation and atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice were compared. Methods: Apolipoprotein E-deﬁcient mice were fed on a high-fat diet and a constrictive collar was placed around the left carotid artery to induce plaque formation. The mice were randomly divided into control, negative control (NC), darapladib and RNA interference (RNAi) groups. Eight weeks after surgery, lentivirus-mediated RNAi construct or darapladib were used to decrease the expression of Lp-PLA2. Plaques were collected five weeks later for histological analysis. Inflammatory gene expression in the atherosclerotic lesions were then determined at the mRNA and protein level. Results: The expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines was significantly reduced in the treatment group, compared to nontreatment group, whereas the plasma concentration of anti-inflammatory cytokines increased markedly. Moreover, our results demonstrated a significant reduction in plaque lipid content, as well as a rise in collagen content following Lp-PLA2 inhibition. Interestingly, when comparing the two methods of Lp-PLA2 inhibition, animals treated with Lp-PLA2 RNAi were found to exhibit lower plaque areas and enhanced improvement of plaque stability as compared with animals treated with darapladib. Darapladib had no attenuating effect on atherosclerotic plaque area. These therapeutic effects were independent of plasma lipoprotein levels. Conclusions: Lp-PLA2 inhibition by darapladib or lentivirus-mediated RNAi ameliorated inflammation and atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice. The effect was more prominent in the RNAi group.

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Atherosclerotic plaque disruption induced by stress and lipopolysaccharide in apolipoprotein E knockout mice

AJP Heart and Circulatory Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpheart.01202.2008 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 296 (5) ◽

pp. H1598-H1606 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

Mei Ni ◽

Yan Wang ◽

Mei Zhang ◽

Peng Fei Zhang ◽

Shi Fang Ding ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Apolipoprotein E ◽

High Fat Diet ◽

Morphological Analysis ◽

Fibrous Cap ◽

Atherosclerotic Lesions ◽

Plaque Disruption ◽

Apolipoprotein E Knockout Mice ◽

Fibrous Cap Thickness ◽

And Control ◽

Disruption Rate

To establish an animal model with disruptions of atherosclerotic plaques, 96 male apolipoprotein E knockout (apoE−/−) mice were randomly divided into stress, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), stress+LPS, and control groups ( n = 24 each). All mice were fed a high-fat diet throughout the experiment, and carotid atherosclerotic lesions were induced by placement of a constrictive perivascular collar. Four weeks after surgery, mice in the LPS and stress+LPS groups were intraperitoneally injected with LPS (1 mg/kg twice per week for 8 wk). Eight weeks after surgery, mice in the stress and stress+LPS groups were treated with intermittent physical stress (electric foot shock and noise stimulation) for 4 wk. Morphological analysis revealed a plaque disruption rate of 16.7% in control, 34.8% in LPS, 54.2% in stress, and 60.9% in stress+LPS groups. The disruption rates in stress and stress+LPS groups were both significantly higher than those of controls ( P = 0.007 and P = 0.002, respectively). Luminal thrombosis secondary to plaque disruption was observed only in the stress+LPS group. Both stress and LPS stimulation significantly decreased fibrous cap thickness and increased macrophage and lipid contents in plaques. Moreover, the combination of stress and LPS stimulation further lowered cap thickness and enhanced accumulation of macrophages and expression of inflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases. Stress activated the sympathetic nervous system, as manifested by increased blood pressure and flow velocity. Plasma fibrinogen levels were remarkably elevated in the stress and stress+LPS groups. In conclusion, stress- and LPS-costimulated apoE−/− mice provide a useful model for studies of plaque vulnerability and interventions.

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Macrophage P53 controls foam cell death in atherosclerotic lesions of apolipoprotein E deficient mice

Vascular Pharmacology ◽

10.1016/j.vph.2006.08.061 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 45 (3) ◽

pp. e4

Author(s):

Marion J.J. Gijbels ◽

Lianne S.M. Boesten ◽

A. Suzanne M. Zadelaar ◽

Aart G. Jochemsen ◽

Bob van de Water ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Death ◽

Apolipoprotein E ◽

Foam Cell ◽

Atherosclerotic Lesions ◽

Deficient Mice

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Abstract 276: Systemic Delivery of Microrna-146a Improves Endothelial Function and Ameliorates Atherosclerosis in Apolipoprotein E-deficient Mice

Circulation Research ◽

10.1161/res.117.suppl_1.276 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 117 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Shuangtao Ma ◽

Xiao Yu Tian ◽

Chaofeng Mu ◽

Haifa Shen ◽

Yunrong Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Endothelial Function ◽

Apolipoprotein E ◽

Carotid Arteries ◽

Treated Group ◽

Vehicle Group ◽

Early Event ◽

Aortic Tissue ◽

Systemic Delivery ◽

Plaque Area ◽

Deficient 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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