title: [Oxidized low density lipoprotein and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α induced endogenous fibroblast growth factor 21 upregulation is protective against apoptosis in cardiac endothelial cells].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)α agonist bezafibrate and oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) on fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) expression and apoptosis in cardiac endothelial cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  The mRNA level of FGF21 was determined by real time-PCR and the protein concentration of FGF21 in culture media was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in cultured cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (CMECs) incubated with 10, 50, 100 µg/ml ox-LDL, 50, 100 or 200 µmol/L bezafibrate alone or in combination with 100 µg/ml ox-LDL. CMECs apoptosis in various treatment groups was also determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  FGF21 mRNA and protein expressions were significantly upregulated in proportion to increased ox-LDL, and 200 µmol/L bezafibrate alone also significantly upregulated FGF21 expression and CMECs apoptosis was significantly reduced in 200 µmol/L bezafibrate + 100 µg/ml ox-LDL group compared to 100 µg/ml ox-LDL group (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that bezafibrate and ox-LDL induced upregulation of FGF21 might mediate the protective effect against apoptosis. Endogenous FGF21 could thus play important roles in improving the endothelial function at the early stage of atherosclerosis and slowing the development of coronary heart disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Jing-Hua
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lü
authors.forename: Li-Ke
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: DU
authors.forename: Xiang-Jun
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: Dong-Hui
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Guo-Zhong
authors.initials: GZ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ying-Chuan
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001629:Bezafibrate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000494:pharmacology*; D047493:PPAR alpha / Q000819:agonists; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D047493:PPAR alpha; C414620:fibroblast growth factor 21; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D001629:Bezafibrate