title: All-trans-retinoic acid ameliorated high fat diet-induced atherosclerosis in rabbits by inhibiting platelet activation and inflammation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  All-trans-retinoic acid (atRA) is effective for many proliferative diseases. We investigated the protective effects of atRA against atherosclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rabbits were randomly allocated to receive basal diet or an HFD for 4 weeks. HFD group then received rosuvastatin (3 mg/day), atRA (5 mg/kg/day), or the same volume of vehicle, respectively, for next 8 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HFD group showed increases in plasma lipids and aortic plaque formation. P-selectin expression and fibrinogen binding on platelets or deposition on the intima of the aorta also increased significantly as did the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and fibrinogen in plasma. After 8 weeks of treatment with atRA, there was a significant decrease in plasma lipids and improvement in aortic lesions. AtRA also inhibited the expression of P-selectin and fibrinogen binding on platelets and deposition on the intima of the aorta.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AtRA can ameliorate HFD-induced AS in rabbits by inhibiting platelet activation and inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui 230022, China.
authors.forename: Birong
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Zeping
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Xiaobian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jianxiong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Zhimin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhai
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism; D059305:Diet, High-Fat; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000378:metabolism; D015539:Platelet Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D019007:P-Selectin; D014212:Tretinoin; D005340:Fibrinogen