[Anti-atherosclerotic effect of betaine in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice].
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of betaine on the formation of atherosclerotic plaque in apolipoprotein E (ApoE)-deficient mice and explore its anti-inflammatory mechanism.


METHODS
Seven-week-old ApoE-deficient mice (C57BL/6J background) were divided into four groups randomly based on body weight: model group and three betaine groups. Wild-type mice with the same age and genetic background were used as control group. The control group and model group were fed AIN-93G diet. Three betaine groups were fed AIN-93G diet supplemented with 1, 2, 4 g betaine/100 g diet, respectively. Serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, lipid levels and methylation status of TNF-alpha promotor in aorta were determined at 0, 7 and 14 weeks. The percentage of aorta sinus plaque to lumen area was measured at 14-week.


RESULTS
The percentage of aorta sinus plaque to lumen area of 1% and 2% betaine groups were (11.43+/-2.65)% and (12.09+/-3.07)%, respectively, which were 41% and 33% smaller than that of the model group (t=3.117, 3.010, respectively, and P<0.01). Serum TNF-alpha level of three betaine groups were (56.33+/-3.86), (63.04+/-4.67) and (65.52+/-3.97) pg/ml, respectively, which were lower than that of the model group (79.40+/-4.68) pg/ml (t=9.270, 6.571 and 5.576, respectively, P<0.001), but there was no significant difference in the methylation status of TNF-alpha promotor among all five groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Betaine could inhibit the development of atherosclerosis via anti-inflammation.
Fan
Rui-xin
RX
Institute of Preventive Medicine, Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
Lü
Shi-wei
SW
DU
Yan-ping
YP
Hou
Meng-jun
MJ
Zhu
Hui-lian
HL
D000818:Animals; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D001622:Betaine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000378:metabolism; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D001622:Betaine