title: Atherosclerosis prevention by a fish oil-rich diet in apoE(-/-) mice is associated with a reduction of endothelial adhesion molecules.
abstract: Dietary intake of long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) reduces the risk for atherosclerosis. Here we examine the effect of a fish oil (FO)-rich diet on the development of atherosclerotic lesions in apolipoprotein E-deficient (apoE(-/-)) mice, which are vulnerable because of their high plasma cholesterol and triacylglycerol levels, focusing on the expression of endothelial adhesion molecules. Mice were fed semi-purified diets containing 5% corn oil (CO), rich in n-6 PUFA or menhaden oil as FO, rich in long-chain n-3 PUFA and 0.15% cholesterol after reaching 4 weeks of age, and they were killed when they were 4 weeks, 12 weeks, 18 weeks or 24 weeks old. Oxidative stress in plasma and aortic tissue was not increased in mice fed the FO-rich diet, despite its high peroxidizability index. A reduction of stenosis and intrusion at the aortic root, a decrease in the surface area of atherosclerotic lesions at the aorta and a decrease in P-selectin, vascular cellular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression were observed in FO-fed mice compared to CO-fed mice. It seems likely that the reduced expression of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 could be transcriptionally regulated by nuclear factor-kappaB in the aortic root. The protective effect of FO against atherosclerosis was more evident at early ages. In conclusion, FO reduces adhesion molecule expression in lesions in apoE(-/-) mice. Because these molecules are involved in lesion progression the effect of FO may explain the observed decrease in atherogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Departament de Fisiologia, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Casós
authors.forename: M Puy
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Sáiz
authors.forename: J Ignacio
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Sanz
authors.forename: M Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Mitjavila
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D003314:Corn Oil; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism*; D005395:Fish Oils; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D005395:Fish Oils; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; C033266:Menhaden oil; D003314:Corn Oil; D002784:Cholesterol