title: Atorvastatin Upregulates the Expression of miR-126 in Apolipoprotein E-knockout Mice with Carotid Atherosclerotic Plaque.
abstract: Carotid atherosclerosis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the carotid arterial wall, which is very important in terms of the occurrence of cerebral vascular accidents. Studies have demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs) and their target genes are involved in the formation of atherosclerosis and that atorvastatin might reduce atherosclerotic plaques by regulating the expression of miRNAs. However, the related mechanism is not yet known. In this study, we first investigated the effects of atorvastatin on miR-126 and its target gene, i.e., vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in apolipoprotein E-knockout (ApoE-/-) mice with carotid atherosclerotic plaque in vivo. We compared the expressions of miR-126 and VCAM-1 between the control, atherosclerotic model and atorvastatin treatment groups of ApoE-/- mice using RT-PCR and Western blot. We found the miR-126 expression was significantly down-regulated, and the VCAM-1 expression was significantly up-regulated in the atherosclerotic model group, which accelerated the progression of atherosclerosis in the ApoE-/- mice. These results following atorvastatin treatment indicated that miR-126 expression was significantly up-regulated, VCAM-1 expression was significantly down-regulated and atherosclerotic lesions were reduced. The present results might explain the mechanism by which miR-126 is involved in the formation of atherosclerosis in vivo. Our study first indicated that atorvastatin might exert its anti-inflammatory effects in atherosclerosis by regulating the expressions of miR-126 and VCAM-1 in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, No. 16 Jiangsu Road, Qingdao, 266003, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xudong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hiser Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266033, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Rongyao
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, No. 16 Jiangsu Road, Qingdao, 266003, Shandong, People's Republic of China. drpan022@163.com.
authors.forename: Aijun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, No. 16 Jiangsu Road, Qingdao, 266003, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Human Micromorphology, the Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266100, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Critical Care Medicine, the Affiliated Hiser Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266033, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiaoyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, No. 16 Jiangsu Road, Qingdao, 266003, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shaonan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, No. 16 Jiangsu Road, Qingdao, 266003, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xiao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D000069059:Atorvastatin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011897:Random Allocation; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; C545201:MIRN126 microRNA, mouse; D035683:MicroRNAs; D000069059:Atorvastatin
keywords: Apolipoprotein E-knockout mice; Atorvastatin; Carotid atherosclerosis; VCAM-1; miR-126