Caveolin-1 expression is associated with plaque formation in hypercholesterolemic rabbits.
Caveolin-1, the major structural protein of caveolae, is present in several cell types known to play a role in the development of atherosclerosis. In this study, the distribution and expression of caveolin-1 in the arterial walls were studied in hypercholesterolemic rabbits. Immunohistochemical results indicated that the staining intensity of caveolin-1 reached a high level in the arterial intima at 5 weeks after high-cholesterol-diet treatment and decreased to a very low level at 8 weeks when atheromatous plaques appeared. Western blot analysis showed that in rabbits fed a high-cholesterol diet for 5 weeks, the expression of caveolin-1 reached its highest level and then decreased from 8 to 12 weeks. The proliferative activity of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) decreased to the lowest level at 5 weeks and then increased at 8 and 12 weeks. Nitric oxide synthase activity gradually decreased in animals fed a high-cholesterol diet throughout the experiment. These studies demonstrate that the change in abundance of caveolin-1 is associated with SMC proliferation in the formation of atheromatous plaque after hypercholesterolemia insult.
Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, 181, Section 3, Taichung Harbor Road, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC.
Wei-Wen
WW
Lin
Yu-Chun
YC
Lin
Ti-Yu
TY
Chang
Shu-Huai
SH
Tsai
Hon-Chun
HC
Ho
Ying-Tsung
YT
Chen
Vivian C
VC
Yang
D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051242:Caveolin 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D013997:Time Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D051242:Caveolin 1; D002784:Cholesterol; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III