title: Differential effects of amlodipine and atorvastatin treatment and their combination on atherosclerosis in ApoE*3-Leiden transgenic mice.
abstract: This study was designed to investigate the potential antiatherosclerotic effects of the calcium antagonist amlodipine as compared with the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor atorvastatin and the combination of both in ApoE*3-Leiden transgenic mice. Four groups of 15 ApoE*3-Leiden mice were put on a high-cholesterol diet. One group received 0.002% (wt/wt) amlodipine in the diet, which had no effect on plasma cholesterol levels. Another group received 0.01% (wt/wt) atorvastatin, resulting in a decrease of plasma cholesterol by 50% by a reduction in very low density lipoprotein production. The combination group received both amlodipine and atorvastatin. After 28 weeks, atherosclerosis in the aortic root was quantified. Treatment with amlodipine had no significant effect on atherosclerotic lesion area, whereas atorvastatin markedly reduced atherosclerosis by 77% compared with the control group. Atorvastatin also reduced inflammation markers. The combination of amlodipine and atorvastatin tended to reduce lesion area by 61% compared with the atorvastatin-only group; however, this effect did not reach statistical significance. Amlodipine treatment significantly reduced calcification in the lesions, whereas atorvastatin alone had no effect. The combination of amlodipine and atorvastatin resulted in a near absence of calcium deposits in the lesions. This study demonstrates that amlodipine treatment alone does not significantly reduce atherosclerotic lesion development. Atorvastatin was shown to have strong antiatherosclerotic effects, and cotreatment with amlodipine may potentiate the antiatherosclerotic effect of atorvastatin.
authors.affiliation: Gaubius Laboratory, TNO-PG, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Dianne J M
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Delsing
authors.forename: J Wouter
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Jukema
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: van de Wiel
authors.forename: Jef J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Emeis
authors.forename: Arnoud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van der Laarse
authors.forename: Louis M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Havekes
authors.forename: Hans M G
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Princen
mesh_terms: D017311:Amlodipine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D053318:Apolipoprotein E3; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D053318:Apolipoprotein E3; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles; C052720:apolipoprotein E3 (Leidein); D017311:Amlodipine; D002784:Cholesterol; D000069059:Atorvastatin