title: Effect of valsartan on ACAT-1 and PPAR-γ expression in intima with carotid artery endothelial balloon injury in rabbit.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effect of valsartan on ACAT-1 and PPAR-γ expression after vascular endothelial balloon injury in intimal hyperplasia process.
  
  
  METHODS
  24 male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups with 8 in each group.
  
  
  METHODS
  rabbits were fed with normal diet; Balloon injury group: rabbits were fed with 0.5% cholesterol, 5% lard rabbit feed; balloon injury + valsartan group, rabbits were fed with 0.5% cholesterol, 5% lard rabbit feed added with 10 mg/(kg.d) valsartan gavage. RT-PCR and Western blotting method were used to detect the carotid ACAT-1, PPAR-γ mRNA and protein expression after 8 weeks of feeding.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In carotid artery balloon injury group, vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) proliferation and intimal hyperplasia were significantly higher 14 d after endothelial injury. In 14 days valsartan treatment group VSMC proliferation and intimal hyperplasia were lighter than the surgery group. Compared with the control group, ACAT-1, PPAR-γ mRNA and protein were significantly increased in balloon injury group and valsartan group (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05); the expression of ACAT-1 mRNA and protein were significantly lower in valsartan group and balloon injury group (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). The expression of PPAR-γ mRNA and protein in valsartan group expression was significantly higher than that in the balloon injury group (P < 0.05). The expression level of ACAT-1 and PPAR-γ mRNA in balloon injury group and valsartan group showed negative correlation (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The expression of ACAT-1, PPAR-γ mRNA and protein content were significantly increased in intimal hyperplasia process after vascular endothelial balloon injury. The effect of valsartan suppressed intimal hyperplasia correlated with the expression of down-regulated ACAT-1 and up-regulated PPAR-γ.
authors.affiliation: Hubei University of Medicine 30 South Renmin Road, Shiyan, Hubei 442000, China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, 161 Hospital of PLA Wuhan 430010, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Qiang
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, 161 Hospital of PLA Wuhan 430010, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Hui
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, 161 Hospital of PLA Wuhan 430010, China.
authors.forename: Qiu-Shi
authors.initials: QS
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, 161 Hospital of PLA Wuhan 430010, China.
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, 161 Hospital of PLA Wuhan 430010, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
keywords: ACAT-1; PPAR-γ; Valsartan; balloon injury; carotid artery