title: Protective role of parnaparin in reducing systemic inflammation and atherosclerotic plaque formation in ApoE-/- mice.
abstract: Atherosclerosis is a degenerative disease whose role in the onset and development of cardiovascular pathologies and complications is of importance. Due to its silent but progressive development, and considering the endothelial, immunological and inflammatory processes that are involved in its clinical course, this still relatively unknown pathological condition has been and continues to be a matter of investigation worldwide. Our experience with previous studies on atherosclerosis led us to investigate the possible influence of a low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) - Parnaparin® on the development and clinical course of atherosclerosis in double knock-out laboratory animals (ApoE-/- mice). Our experiments demonstrated a possible role of Parnaparin (PNP) in the control of atherogenic disease. In fact, in treated mice vs. untreated ones, PNP reduced the number and the size of atherosclerotic lesions in the aortic wall, as well as the development of liver steatosis, which was massive in untreated animals and moderate in treated ones. These preliminary observations require further clinical studies, but demonstrate a possible role of Parnaparin in the control of the development and clinical evolution of atherosclerosis and liver steatosis in laboratory animals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sensory Organs, University of Rome La Sapienza, Viale del Policlinico 155, Rome, Italy. marco.artico@uniroma1.it
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Artico
authors.forename: Rachele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Riganò
authors.forename: Brigitta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Buttari
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Profumo
authors.forename: Brunella
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ionta
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bosco
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rasile
authors.forename: Enrica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.forename: Moira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bruno
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fumagalli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D001158:Arteries / Q000187:drug effects*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000473:pathology; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055786:Gene Knockout Techniques; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight; C080945:parnaparin