title: Niacin Suppresses Progression of Atherosclerosis by Inhibiting Vascular Inflammation and Apoptosis of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND Niacin is a broad-spectrum lipid-regulating drug used for the clinical therapy of atherosclerosis; however, the mechanisms by which niacin ameliorates atherosclerosis are not clear. MATERIAL AND METHODS The effect of niacin on atherosclerosis was assessed by detection of atherosclerotic lesion area. Adhesion molecules in arterial endothelial cells were determined by using qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis. The levels of serum inflammatory cytokines in ApoE-/- mice were detected by using ELISA. We detected the expression levels of phosphorylated nuclear factors-kB (NF-κB) p65 in aortic endothelial cells of mice using Western blot analysis. Furthermore, we investigated the anti-inflammation effect and endothelium-protecting function of niacin and their regulatory mechanisms in vitro. RESULTS Niacin inhibited the progress of atherosclerosis and decreased the levels of serum inflammatory cytokines and adhesion molecules in ApoE-/- mice. Niacin suppressed the activity of NF-κB and apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Furthermore, niacin induced phosphorylated focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and FAK inhibitor PF-573228 reduced the level of Bcl-2 and elevated the level of cleaved caspase-3 in VSMCs. CONCLUSIONS Niacin inhibits vascular inflammation and apoptosis of VSMCs via inhibiting the NF-κB signaling and the FAK signaling pathway, respectively, thus protecting ApoE-/- mice against atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Su
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Guangli
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Hai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Liliang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Jingchao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Longhui
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000378:metabolism; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D009525:Niacin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D016207:Cytokines; D016328:NF-kappa B; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D009525:Niacin