title: Leucine supplementation via drinking water reduces atherosclerotic lesions in apoE null mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recent evidence suggests that the essential amino acid leucine may be involved in systemic cholesterol metabolism. In this study, we investigated the effects of leucine supplementation on the development of atherosclerosis in apoE null mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  ApoE null mice were fed with chow supplemented with leucine (1.5% w/v) in drinking water for 8 week. Aortic atherosclerotic lesions were examined using Oil Red O staining. Plasma lipoprotein-cholesterol levels were measured with fast protein liquid chromatography. Hepatic gene expression was detected using real-time PCR and Western blot analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Leucine supplementation resulted in 57.6% reduction of aortic atherosclerotic lesion area in apoE null mice, accompanied by 41.2% decrease of serum LDL-C levels and 40.2% increase of serum HDL-C levels. The body weight, food intake and blood glucose level were not affected by leucine supplementation. Furthermore, leucine supplementation increased the expression of Abcg5 and Abcg8 (that were involved in hepatic cholesterol efflux) by 1.28- and 0.86-fold, respectively, and significantly increased their protein levels. Leucine supplementation also increased the expression of Srebf1, Scd1 and Pgc1b (that were involved in hepatic triglyceride metabolism) by 3.73-, 1.35- and 1.71-fold, respectively. Consequently, leucine supplementation resulted in 51.77% reduction of liver cholesterol content and 2.2-fold increase of liver triglyceride content. Additionally, leucine supplementation did not affect the serum levels of IL-6, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-10 and IL-12, but markedly decreased the serum level of MCP-1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Leucine supplementation effectively attenuates atherosclerosis in apoE null mice by improving the plasma lipid profile and reducing systemic inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Peking University Health Science Center, Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Science, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100191, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Peking University Health Science Center, Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Science, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100191, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Peking University Health Science Center, Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Science, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100191, China.
authors.forename: Zhou
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Peking University Health Science Center, Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Science, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100191, China.
authors.forename: Ge-xin
authors.initials: GX
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Peking University Health Science Center, Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Science, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100191, China.
authors.forename: Xian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Peking University Health Science Center, Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Science, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100191, China.
authors.forename: Ming-jiang
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D017353:Gene Deletion; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007930:Leucine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D060766:Drinking Water; D008055:Lipids; D007930:Leucine