title: [Impact of rosuvastatin on atherosclerosis lesions in apolipoprotein E knockout mice].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of rosuvastatin on atherosclerosis in apoE-knockout (apoE-/-) mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen 6-week-old apoE-/- mice fed with high fat diet were used as atherosclerosis models, twelve 6-week-old C57BL/6 mice fed with normal diet were used as control. After twelve weeks, six apoE-/- mice were used to observe the formation of atherosclerosis. Another 12 apoE-/- mice were divided into placebo treated group (n = 6) and rosuvastatin group (n = 6, 10 mg×kg(-1)×d(-1) per gavage) and treated for 12 weeks. Then, blood was collected for measuring lipid, aorta was prepared for morphologic study (HE, Oil red O, Masson) and immunohistochemical analysis (α-smooth active protein, transforming growth factor β(1), macrophage surface molecule-3).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum cholesterol and low density lipoprotein levels were significantly higher in apoE-/- mice fed with high fat diet than in C57/BL6 mice(all P < 0.01)while triglyceride level was similar between the two groups, these were not affected by rosuvastatin. Similarly, atherosclerotic lesion area in apoE-/- mice fed with high fat diet was also not significantly reduced by rosuvastatin, while lipid deposition could be significantly reduced and collagen deposition could be significantly increased in the aortic atherosclerotic lesions by treatment with rosuvastatin. Upregulated TGF-β(1) and Mac-3 expression in the aortic atherosclerotic lesions in apoE-/- mice fed with high fat diet could also be significantly reduced by rosuvastatin (all P < 0.01), suggesting reduce inflammatory responses in the atherosclerotic lesion and stable atherosclerotic plaque post rosuvastatin treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reducing inflammatory responses and stabilizing plaque properties might contribute to the anti-atherosclerosis effects of rosuvastatin in mice high fat diet fed apoE-/- mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China.
authors.forename: Ren-na
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Li-jian
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Miao-miao
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000378:metabolism; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D059305:Diet, High-Fat; D005464:Fluorobenzenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000473:pathology; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D005464:Fluorobenzenes; D011743:Pyrimidines; D013449:Sulfonamides; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; C036763:monocyte-macrophage differentiation antigen; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium