[The anti-athetotic effects of heme-L-lysinate in a rabbit model of atherosclerosis].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the anti-atherotic effects of heme-L-lysinate in a rabbit model of atherosclerosis and related machanisms.


METHODS
Adult rabbits were treated with 1% cholesterol diet (chol group, n = 8) or 1% cholesterol diet plus heme-L-lysinate (9 mgxkg(-1)xd(-1), Heme group, n = 8) or 1% cholesterol diet plus isotonic Na chloride (Na chloride group, n = 8) for 10 weeks. Eight rabbits fed with normal diet served as normal control. Aortic carbon monoxide (CO) was quantified spectrophotometrically by the formation of carboxyhaemoglobin (HbCO). Aortic heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and HSP70 mRNA and protein expressions were detected by RT-PCR and immunohistochemical staining.


RESULTS
Aortic CO production and HO-1 activity were significantly increased in chol group and Na chloride group compared those in normal control group (P < 0.01). Aortic plaque area was significantly reduced in heme group (26.6% +/- 9.2%) than that in chol group (42.3% +/- 8.7%, P < 0.01). Aortic HO-1 expression, CO production and HSP70 were significantly increased in heme group than those in chol group and Na chloride group (all P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Heme-L-lysinate could attenuate atherosclerotic progression through upregulating HO-1 and HSP70 expression and increasing CO production in this model.
Wang
Xiao-bing
XB
Military General Hospital of Beijing, Beijing 100026, China.
Wei
Wan-lin
WL
D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000378:metabolism; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D004036:Diet, Atherogenic; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D050883:HSC70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006418:Heme / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D008239:Lysine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D011817:Rabbits
D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D050883:HSC70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C106087:heme lysinate; D006418:Heme; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1; D008239:Lysine