ABSTRACT
AIM: In order to investigate the change of CD36 expression in atherosclerosis. METHODS: Chinese minipigs were fed a normal control diet (CD) or a high fat/high cholesterol diet (HFHC) for 12 months after common carotid artery injury induced by balloon denudation. Plasma total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglycerides (TG) were determined by commercially enzymatic methods. CD36 mRNA and protein levels were determined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blotting and immunohistochemistry, respectively. RESULTS: After HFHC for 12 months, plasma total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglyceride in HFHC minipigs were increased compared with the control. CD36 expression and aorta PPAR? in HFHC minipigs were upregulated. CONCLUSION: HFHC may induce hyper cholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia and upregulation of CD36 and aortic PPAR? expression.