title: Effect of probucol on vascular remodeling due to atherosclerosis in rabbits: an intravascular ultrasound study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Probucol is known to reduce the development of atherosclerotic lesions, but its impact on vascular remodeling associated with de novo atherosclerosis is incompletely understood. We therefore examined the effect of probucol on vascular remodeling in a rabbit model of established atherosclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Aortic atherosclerosis was induced by a combination of endothelial injury and 10 weeks' atherogenic diet. Animals were then randomized to receive the foregoing diet without or with 1% (wt/wt) probucol for 16 weeks. At the end of week 26, in vivo intravascular ultrasound, pathological, immunohistochemical and gene expression studies were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Probucol significantly decreased vessel cross-sectional area, plaque area and plaque burden without effect on lumen area. More negative remodeling and less positive remodeling occurred in the abdominal aortas of probucol group than the control group (56% vs. 21%, 18% vs. 54%, respectively, both P < 0.01). In addition, the probucol group showed a smaller mean remodeling index relative to the control group (0.93 ± 0.13 vs. 1.05 ± 0.16, P < 0.01). Furthermore, probucol treatment decreased macrophage infiltration, inhibited apoptosis of cells within plaques, and reduced the production of matrix metalloproteinases-2, -9, cathepsin K and cathepsin S (all P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that probucol may attenuate the enlargement of atherosclerotic vessel walls and be associated with a negative remodeling pattern without affecting the lumen size. This effect may involve inhibition of extracellular matrix degradation and prevention of apoptosis in atherosclerotic plaques.
authors: Department of Cardiology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China.
authors: Ting-Ting
authors: TT
authors: Li
authors: Yi
authors: Y
authors: Xie
authors: Yuan
authors: Y
authors: Guo
authors: Hong-Bo
authors: HB
authors: Tian
authors: Jian-Ning
authors: JN
authors: Zhang
authors: Jie
authors: J
authors: Peng
authors: Yun
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011341:Probucol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008055:Lipids; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D011341:Probucol