N-acetylcysteine reduces the severity of atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice by reducing superoxide production.
BACKGROUND
Oxidative stress may play an important role in the development of atherosclerosis. Because N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is able to reduce oxidative stress, the present study assessed the hypothesis that NAC may reduce the severity of atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein (apo) E-deficient mice.


RESULTS
Atherosclerosis was induced in apoE-deficient mice fed a high-fat diet containing 0.3% cholesterol. Mice were injected intraperitoneally with NAC (20 mg . kg(-1) . day(-1)) 3 times per week over 8 weeks. Fatty streak plaque developed in the apoE-deficient mice, but not in mice treated with NAC. In addition, NAC reduced superoxide production in the aortic walls, as detected by ethidium staining. NAC treatment did not significantly modify the serum lipid profiles.


CONCLUSIONS
In this animal model NAC may suppress atherosclerosis via reducing superoxide production.
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 54 Kawara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan.
Kana
K
Shimada
Toshinori
T
Murayama
Masayuki
M
Yokode
Toru
T
Kita
Hiroyasu
H
Uzui
Takanori
T
Ueda
Jong-Dae
JD
Lee
Chiharu
C
Kishimoto
D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000172:deficiency*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000009:adverse effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism*
D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D004041:Dietary Fats; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D013481:Superoxides; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D000111:Acetylcysteine