Atorvastatin ameliorates aortic YKL-40 level in diabetic rats fed with an atherogenic diet

Abstract

Abstract: AIM: To investigate the effects of atorvastatin on expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokine, YKL-40, in the aortic intima of diabetic rats fed with an atherogenic diet.METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into five groups: control, atherogenic diet, atherogenic diet + atorvastatin, diabetes mellitus+atherogenic diet, and diabetes mellitus + atherogenic diet + atorvastatin (n=9, in each group). Aortic atherosclerosis was induced by a single dose of vitamin D3, followed by a fatty diet. Diabetic model was established using intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ). Serum levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), HbA1c, triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) were determined. The mRNA level and protein expression of YKL-40 in the aortic intima were measured after treatment with atorvastatin (20 mg/kg) for 8 weeks.RESULTS: FBG, HbA1c, and TG were higher in diabetic rats with atherogenic diet than controls (all P<0.01) and rats with single atherogenic diet (all P<0.05). Real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry revealed that mRNA level and protein expression of YKL-40 were significantly elevated in the aortic intima of diabetic rats with atherogenic diet (all P<0.01 vs controls and rats with single atherogenic diet), which were significantly decreased after treatment with atorvastatin for 8 weeks (all P<0.01).CONCLUSION: Atorvastatin significantly suppresses aortic YKL-40 expression in STZ-induced diabetic rats with atherogenic diet, suggesting that this agent may be beneficial in reducing the pathological effect of YKL-40 in the formation of atherosclerosis.

Key words: atorvastatin, atherogenic diet, diabetic rat, YKL-40

CLC Number:

R965.2

ZHENG Jian-lei, CHEN Qiu-jing, LU Lin, ZHANG Qi, ZHANG Rui-yan, SHEN Wei-feng. Atorvastatin ameliorates aortic YKL-40 level in diabetic rats fed with an atherogenic diet[J]. Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 2014, 19(2): 133-138.

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