Mechanisms of action of the anti-atherogenic effect of magnesium: lessons from a mouse model.
Magnesium (Mg) fortification of drinking water succeeded in inhibition of atherogenesis development in a transgenic model of atherosclerosis-prone mice fed a high-cholesterol content diet. In order to delineate possible mechanisms of action of the anti-atherogenic effect of Mg, the involvement of LDL oxidation was studied. We determined the susceptibility of LDL to Cu+2 oxidation, anti-oxidized LDL antibody levels, and liver content of retinol and retinyl-palmitate. In order to study another possible mechanism we tested platelets interaction with extracellular matrix in both male and female mice with or without Mg fortification of drinking water. No difference was found in susceptibility of LDL to undergo oxidation. Female mice that received Mg had decreased anti-oxidized LDL antibody levels compared with control female mice, while there was no significant difference among male groups. On the other hand, only in the male group with Mg was a higher content of retinol and retinyl-palmitate found in the livers. Platelets coverage area on extracellular matrix was similar between groups. These results suggest that Mg might affect LDL oxidation, and thus atherogenesis.
Sherer
Y
Y
Department of Medicine B, and Institute of Lipid and Atherosclerosis Research, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.
Bitzur
R
R
Cohen
H
H
Shaish
A
A
Varon
D
D
Shoenfeld
Y
Y
Harats
D
D
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000378:metabolism*; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism; D004036:Diet, Atherogenic; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004224:Diterpenes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D008274:Magnesium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D011973:Receptors, LDL / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000084562:Retinyl Esters; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism
D000906:Antibodies; D000975:Antioxidants; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D004224:Diterpenes; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D011973:Receptors, LDL; D000084562:Retinyl Esters; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; D014801:Vitamin A; C014794:retinol palmitate; D003300:Copper; D008274:Magnesium