Abstract 657: A New Translational Model of Hypercholesterolemia and Atherosclerosis: Effect of Statins on LDLR KO Miniature Swine

2014 ◽  
Vol 34 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dale E Mais ◽  
Thomas Vihtelic ◽  
Chidozie Amuzie ◽  
Steven Denham ◽  
John R Swart ◽  
...  

Small animal models of atherosclerosis are commonly used in drug studies; however, the results often fail to translate into the clinic. A large animal model that more accurately reflects the human disease is needed. We recently developed a transgenic Yucatan pig model in which the LDL receptor (LDLR) gene is knocked out. Five groups of Yucatan pigs (N=4 per group), either wild type (LDLR+/+) or heterozygote (LDLR+/-) were fed a normal diet or a high fat diet for a six month period. One of the heterozygote/high fat diet groups in addition received a daily dose of a statin (atorvastatin) at 3 mg/kg. Every two weeks during the study a variety of clinical chemistry parameters were measured. At study termination, select arteries were collected, stained for lipid deposits and quantitated. In addition, sections of these arteries were prepared for immunohistochemistry to detect selected markers of macrophage infiltration into the atherosclerotic plaques. As expected, pigs fed a high fat diet gained significantly more weight at six months whether they were wild type or LDLR+/-. Atorvastatin appeared to attenuate this weight gain. There were significant increases in total cholesterol, HDL and LDL in pigs fed the high fat diet compared to their corresponding control group. The group receiving the atorvastatin had reduced values of these parameters compared to controls showing that a statin had a beneficial effect on lipid levels even in a high fat diet scenario. VLDL levels were not affected but there were triglyceride changes across the groups. Liver function was unchanged based on total bilirubin and AST while ALT measurements were altered in some of the groups. Immunohistochemistry and histomorphometry was performed on some arteries. Atorvastatin-induced amelioration of hypercholesterolemia in this model underscores its translational utility.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuqiong Zhao ◽  
Miaomiao Niu ◽  
Jia Yunxiao ◽  
Yuan Jifang ◽  
Xiang Lei ◽  
...  

Abstract BackgroundIn the past 20 years, the number of adults with diabetes has tripled. For most of the researches are often conducted in rodent T2DM models, and effective drugs developed have low clinical conversion efficiency. Therefore, it is urgent to establish a large animal model to explore the pathogenesis of T2DM and formulate disease prevention and control strategies. MethodsThis study was designed to establish and validate a T2DM model in minipigs with notable hyperglycemia using a high-fat diet and low-dose streptozotocin (STZ),and examined the influence of STZ infusion time, the difference between a high-fat diet and a high-cholesterol and high-fat diet, and the atherosclerotic lesions accelerated by diabetes. Male Bama minipigs (n=24) were randomly divided into 5 groups; the control group was fed with normal diet for 9 months; STZ+HFD group and STZ+HCFD group were infused with 90 mg/kg STZ and then fed with a high-fat diet or high-cholesterol and high-fat diet for 9 months, respectively; HFD + STZ group and HCFD + STZ group were fed with a high-fat diet or high-cholesterol and high-fat diet, respectively, for nine months (after 3 months, pigs were injected with 90 mg/kg STZ intravenously). ResultsThe results showed the serum glucose concentrations were within the normal range in all groups except for HFD + STZ group and HCFD + STZ group. Animals fed with a high-fat diet for 9 months, did not develop apparent atherosclerotic lesions; nevertheless, atherosclerotic lesions were seen in animals fed with high-cholesterol and high-fat diets. Moreover, hyperglycemia accelerated atherosclerosis (lesions on the intimal surface of the abdominal aorta, 0.44±0.29 vs. 0.28±0.26) in minipigs. ConclusionsHigh-fat/high-cholesterol and high-fat diet combined with low-dose streptozotocin successfully established T2DM in minipigs. High-fat diet could not induce apparent atherosclerosis lesions but high-cholesterol and high-fat diet could during the nine months period. Hyperglycemia accelerated atherosclerosis in the minipigs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Safia Akhtar ◽  
Silas A. Culver ◽  
Helmy M. Siragy

AbstractRecent studies suggested that renal gluconeogenesis is substantially stimulated in the kidney in presence of obesity. However, the mechanisms responsible for such stimulation are not well understood. Recently, our laboratory demonstrated that mice fed high fat diet (HFD) exhibited increase in renal Atp6ap2 [also known as (Pro)renin receptor] expression. We hypothesized that HFD upregulates renal gluconeogenesis via Atp6ap2-PGC-1α and AKT pathway. Using real-time polymerase chain reaction, western blot analysis and immunostaining, we evaluated renal expression of the Atp6ap2 and renal gluconeogenic enzymes, PEPCK and G6Pase, in wild type and inducible nephron specific Atp6ap2 knockout mice fed normal diet (ND, 12 kcal% fat) or a high-fat diet (HFD, 45 kcal% fat) for 8 weeks. Compared with ND, HFD mice had significantly higher body weight (23%) (P < 0.05), renal mRNA and protein expression of Atp6ap2 (39 and 35%), PEPCK (44 and 125%) and G6Pase (39 and 44%) respectively. In addition, compared to ND, HFD mice had increased renal protein expression of PGC-1α by 32% (P < 0.05) and downregulated AKT by 33% (P < 0.05) respectively in renal cortex. Atp6ap2-KO abrogated these changes in the mice fed HFD. In conclusion, we identified novel regulation of renal gluconeogenesis by Atp6ap2 in response to high fat diet via PGC1-α/AKT-1 pathway.


Author(s):  
Rizka Veni ◽  
Awal Prasetyo ◽  
Muflihatul Muniroh

This study aims to analyze the effect of combination of motor vehicle particular matter exposure and high-fat diet in kidney histopathology, creatinine levels, and MDA levels in Wistar rats. This study used a posttest-only control group design. Eighteen healthy male Wistar rats were divided into three groups. The intervention groups received motor vehicle fume exposure for 100 s with normal diet (X1) or high-fat diet (X2), and the control group received no exposure (C). Data analysis was processed with a SPSS 25.0 computer program by using the one-way ANOVA test followed by post hoc LSD. The degree of kidney histopathological damage showed significant differences between the X1 and X2 groups when compared with the control group (p < 0.05). The results of the creatinine level examination found a significant difference between the X2 and C groups (p < 0.05) and the treatment groups X1 and X2 (p < 0.05). The results of kidney MDA level examination showed a significant difference between the treatment groups (X1 and X2) and the control group (p < 0.05). The combination of particular matter of motor vehicle fumes exposure and high-fat diet could induce kidney damage through histopathological change and increased creatinine levels and kidney MDA levels in Wistar rats.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan Yang ◽  
Feng Zhang ◽  
Xiao Xiao ◽  
Chunlian Ma ◽  
Hua Liu ◽  
...  

AbstractOur aims were to explore the effects of dietary and behavior interventions on lipometabolism caused by unhealthy high-fat diet and the best method to rebuild lipid homeostasis of this lifestyle. Apart from normal diet rats, 34 rats were fed with high-fat emulsion for 4 weeks before being divided into 4 groups and intervened for another 4 weeks. 8 of them were classified into high-fat control group and 9 were sorted into high-fat diet with rice vinegar group. Meanwhile, 10 were put into high-fat diet with swimming group and 7 were just for refeeding normal diet group. Then the data of body weight was recorded and analyzed. Serum, pancreas, liver, cardiac tissues and epididymis adipose were sampled as required. Indexes of serum were tested by kits. AMPKα, HNF1α, CTRP6 from tissues were detected by western blot. According to our experiments, Swimming and refeeding groups reflected a better regulation on lipid homeostasis mainly by up-regulating the expression of pancreas AMPKα. To be more specific, the refeeding rats showed lower T-CHO (P<0.001) and LDL-C (P<0.05), but higher weight gain (P<0.001),insulin level (P<0.01)and pancreas AMPKα (P<0.01)than high-fat control rats. Compared with rats experimented by swimming or rice vinegar, they showed higher weight gain (P<0.001),insulin level (P<0.01)and HNF1α, but lower of CTRP6. In summary, refeeding diet functioned better in regulating the lipometabolic level after high-fat diet. Whatever approach mentioned above we adopted to intervene, the best policy to keep the balance of lipid homeostasis is to maintain a healthy diet.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Louis Zapater ◽  
Wasim Khan ◽  
Brian T Layden

Abstract Hexokinase domain-containing protein 1 (HKDC1) is a recently discovered putative fifth hexokinase that is widely expressed in a variety of human and mouse tissues. Previous work indicate that HKDC1 is important for whole-body glucose homeostasis and utilization in pregnancy and aging, and suggest roles for HKDC1 in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma. Prior work in the lab further showed that global heterozygous-deleted HKDC1 mice exhibit blunted uptake of triglycerides following an olive oil bolus compared to wild-type mice, suggesting a role for intestinal HKDC1 expression in intestinal lipid metabolism (unpublished results). To specifically study the significance of intestinal HKDC1 on whole-body glucose and lipid homeostasis, we utilized Cre-mediated recombination of HKDC1 in which Cre was expressed under the control of the villin gene promoter, creating a mouse model in which HKDC1 expression is specifically deleted in the intestinal epithelium. Quantitative RT-PCR data confirmed the knockout of HKDC1 within the mouse intestine in young and aged mice, while HKDC1 expression in other tissues was comparable to wild-type mice. Next, intestinal HKDC1 knockout mice and their wild-type littermate controls were either maintained on a normal diet or were switched to a high fat diet at 6 weeks of age to simulate the state of impaired glucose tolerance, and the effects of intestinal HKDC1 on glucose and lipid homeostasis were analyzed between 28-34 weeks of age. Mice fed a normal diet did not exhibit any differences in serum glucose or triglyceride during oral/intraperitoneal glucose tolerance tests or oral olive oil bolus, respectively, regardless of intestinal HKDC1 status. Interestingly, mice lacking intestinal HKDC1 that were on a high fat diet demonstrated improved overall glycemic control compared to wild-type mice after the administration of an oral glucose load, all while there were no changes in insulin levels, gluconeogenesis or insulin tolerance related to HKDC1 status. Additionally, introduction of an intraperitoneal glucose load to mice fed a high fat diet did not alter glucose control in the presence or absence of intestinal HKDC1. However, high fat diet-fed mice lacking intestinal HKDC1 did not have a significant increase in serum triglyceride following an oral olive oil bolus, while their stool fat and triglyceride content were comparable to wild-type. Collectively, these data indicate that intestinal HKDC1 has important roles in glucose and triglyceride metabolism within the intestinal epithelium, and further suggest a role in whole-body glucose homeostasis and in the development of insulin resistance and diabetes.


Author(s):  
Hui-Li Lin ◽  
Pei-Wen Cheng ◽  
Yi-Chen Tu ◽  
Bor-Chun Yeh ◽  
Bin-Nan Wu ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives Eugenosedin-A (Eu-A), an adrenergic and serotonergic antagonist, is known to have anti-metabolic syndrome effects. In this study, we evaluated its protective effects against diabetes mellitus (DM) in spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR) and compared it with two anti-diabetes medications, glibenclamide (Gli) and pioglitazone (Pio). Methods We divided 10-week-old SHRs into five groups: a control group fed a normal diet; an untreated DM group induced by injecting the SHRs with STZ/NA and feeding them a high-fat diet (HFD); and three treated groups (after giving STZ/NA and HFD) gavage given with Eu-A, Gli or Pio (5 mg/kg per day) for 4 weeks. Key findings The untreated DM group weighed less and had hyperglycaemia, hypoinsulinemia and hyperlipidemia. They were also found to have aberrant glucose-dependent insulin pathways, glucose metabolism and lipid synthesis proteins, while the controls did not. Eu-A, Gli and Pio ameliorated the above biochemical parameters in the treatment groups. Eu-A and Pio, but not Gli, improved hypertension and tachycardia. Conclusions Taken together, Eu-A ameliorated DM, hypertension and tachycardia by improving glucose, lipid homeostasis and anti-adrenergic, serotonergic activities. We concluded that Eu-A could be used in the development of an effective agent for controlling DM and its complications.


Vascular ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhaojun Wang ◽  
Zhongqun Wang ◽  
Jie Zhu ◽  
Xinguang Long ◽  
Jinchuan Yan

Background and objectives Vascular calcification is a common complication in atherosclerosis. Accumulating evidence showed that Toll-like receptors (TLRs) mediate pro-inflammatory and atherosclerosis. Recent studies demonstrated that vascular calcification is one of the detrimental effects of vitamin K (Vit K) antagonists. However, the effects of Vit K on the expression of TLR2 and 4 and intimal calcification in artery remained unidentified. Methods and results Eighteen ApoE-/- mice were randomly divided into model group, Vit K-treated group, and control group. The mice of model and Vit K-treated group were fed with high-fat diet, while control group mice were fed with normal diet. Mice of Vit K-treated group were administered orally with vitamin K2 (40 mg.kg−1.day−1) for 12 weeks. Twelve weeks later the aortic sections of mice were acquired and stained with hematoxylin and eosin and von Kossa, respectively. Calcium content and activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) at aortic tissues were measured. The expression levels of TLR2 and TLR4 in aorta sections were detected by immunohistochemisty and RT-PCR, respectively. The effects of Vit K on cellular calcification were further studied in A7r5 SMCs. Results demonstrated that high-fat diet induced typical atherosclerosis with intimal calcification in ApoE-/- mice, while in Vit K-treated group atherosclerosis and calcium deposits were not serious; Vit K2 also inhibited cellular calcification in A7r5 SMCs. Quantitative analysis showed that calcium and ALP activity at aortic tissues in the Vit K-treated mice were significantly lower than that of the model group ( P < 0.01); Compared to the control group, the expression levels of TLR2 and TLR4 in the model group were significantly higher ( P < 0.05), while in Vit K-treated group the levels of TLR2 and 4 were significantly lower than that in the model group. Furthermore, the content of calcium was positively related to the expression levels of TLR2 and TLR4 mRNA at aortic tissues ( r = 0.77 and r = 0.79, respectively, both P < 0.001). Conclusion VitK2 can inhibit intimal calcification of aortic artery induced by high-fat diet in ApoE-/- mice and A7r5 SMCs calcification induced by β-sodium glycerophosphate, and meanwhile can reduce the expression of TLR2 and TLR4. These results suggested that the effects of VitK2 on vascular calcification may be associated with the expression of TLR2 and TLR4.


Author(s):  
Supattra Prom-in ◽  
Jasadee Kaewsrichan ◽  
Nuntika Wangpradit ◽  
Chua Kien Hui ◽  
Mohamad Fairuz Yahaya ◽  
...  

Okra peel exhibits numerous therapeutic effects. This study explores the potential ameliorative effects of okra peel powder on high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced hypercholesterolemia and cognitive deficits. Thirty-six C57BL/6J male mice were randomly divided into six groups (n = 6 per group): (i) control, mice fed with a normal diet; (ii) HFD, mice fed with HFD; (iii) HFD-SIM, mice fed with HFD and given simvastatin (20 mg/kg/day); (iv) HFD-OP1; (v) HFD-OP2; (vi) HFD-OP3, mice fed with HFD and okra peel (200, 400, or 800 mg/kg/day, respectively). Following 10 weeks of treatments, the mice were subjected to the Morris water maze (MWM). Parameters such as weekly average body weight, food intake, and blood lipid profiles were also recorded. The HFD group showed a profound increase in total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein concentration compared to the control group. All okra-treated and HFD-SIM groups performed better than the HFD group during acquisition trials, whereas only the HFD-OP1 produced a significantly higher number of entries into the platform zone during the probe trial. In sum, all three okra doses improved the learning ability of the mice. However, only the lowest dose of okra significantly improved the spatial reference memory retention.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Feng ◽  
Jianghao Feng ◽  
Lei Wang ◽  
Ai Meng ◽  
Siang Wei ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to explore the effect of short-chain inulin on cecal microbiota of high-fat diet-fed leptin knockout mice and the different influences of cecal microbiota on wild-type and leptin knockout mice. A total of 18 specific pathogen-free male C57BL/6J wild-type mice and 18 C57BL/6J leptin knockout mice (OB/OB mice) were selected. Mice were divided into six groups according to their genotype: wild-type mice have three groups, including the normal diet group (CT), 60% high-fat diet group (CH), and 60% high fat with 10% short-chain inulin group (CHI); OB/OB mice were also divided into three groups, including the normal diet group (OT), 60% high-fat diet group (OH), and 60% high fat with 10% short-inulin group (OHI). The mice were fed for 8 weeks to analyze the diversity of cecal microbiota. The results show that compared with CH and OH, the variety of cecal microbiota was significantly reduced in CH and OH and further reduced in CHI and OHI. Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus are the biomarkers in genus level. Dietary short-chain inulin significantly enhanced Bifidobacterium in OHI compared with OH (p &lt; 0.01) and significantly reduced in CHI and compared with CH (p &lt; 0.01). Lactobacillus was significantly enhanced in CHI and OHI compared with CH and OH, respectively (p &lt; 0.01). Blautia was significantly enhanced in CH and OH compared with other groups (p &lt; 0.01). Both Escherichia-Shigella and Enterococcus were significantly reduced in CHI and OHI, compared with CH and OH, respectively (p &lt; 0.05). Escherichia-Shigella was even lower than CT and OT in CHI and OHI. Functional prediction of microbial communities showed that the abundance of amino acid sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism pathways were significantly enhanced (p &lt; 0.05) in CH and OH, and OH was significantly higher than CH (p &lt; 0.05). Among the leptin knockout groups, PICRUSt2 function prediction showed that the fatty acid metabolism pathway significantly reduced (p &lt; 0.05) in OHI and OT compared with OH. In conclusion, short-chain inulin modulated the dysbiosis induced by high-fat diet, improved probiotics growth and inhibited conditioned pathogenic bacteria, and the influences were significantly different in wild-type and leptin knockout mice.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bende Liu ◽  
Xiaoling Liu ◽  
Ze Zhang ◽  
Yan Qin ◽  
Fang Zou ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective: To investigate the effects of tea blend composed of Enshi selenium-rich tea, gynostemma pentaphyllum and apenma on blood lipid and lipid metabolism in mice with hyperlipidemia and prevention of hyperlipidemia in mice on the high-fat diet.Methods: Mice were randomized into 7 groups, among which 6 groups were fed with high-fat diet to establish a hyperlipidemia mouse model, and the other group was fed with normal diet as the normal control. After the hyperlipidemia model was established, mice were fed with normal diet while receiving different regimens. The normal diet group, the high-fat control group and the positive control group were given physiological saline solution, physiological saline solution and atorvastatin daily by gavage, respectively. The initial intervention group was given medium dose tea blend solution by gavage, and the other three groups were given low, medium and high dose of tea solution daily by gavage, respectively. After 4 weeks of treatment, mice were sacrificed, blood samples were taken for monitoring of lipid metabolism, -liver and tissue tissues were removed for examination of morphology and gene expression.Results: The tea blend not only significantly reduced the level of blood lipid in hyperlipidemia mice, but also effectively protected the liver and kidney function (P < 0.05). Observation under the light microscope reveled that, high-fat diet led to the accumulation of fat in hepatocytes and disorder of hepatic cordage, while the tea blend alleviated the hepatocyte steatosis. In addition, the tea blend promoted the expression of HL and HSL genes, and increased the levels of LAXR and PPARA, which regulated lipid metabolism at the genetic level (P < 0.05).Conclusion: This study confirmed that drinking tea blend composed of Enshi selenium-enriched tea, Gynostemma pentaphyllum and Apocynum venetum could lower blood lipids in mice with hyperlipidemia. In addition, various doses of tea blend could be used for hyperlipidemia with good liver and kidney function, and medium or high dose of tea blend was relatively safe for hyperlipidemia with poor liver and kidney function.


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