ABSTRACT
Objective: To study the expression pattern of apolipoprotein J (Apo J) in rat's model of vascular restenosis after cartid balloon dilation. Methods: A total of 40 Wistar rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: Experimental group, the rat's model of carotid artery injury was established by 2 F Fogarty balloon catheter scratching in right carotid artery and Control group, the rats received sham operation without catheter scratching. n=20 in each group. Right carotid artery tissue was taken at 1, 2, 3, 4 weeks after the operation respectively and 5 rats were used for each time point. The morphological changes were measured by HE staining, protein and gene expressions of Apo J were examined by immunohistochemistry and qRT-PCR. Results: Compared with Control group, at each time point Experimental group had obvious intimal hyperplasia and up-regulated protein and gene expressions of Apo J, P<0.05. In Experimental group, with prolonged time of injury, consistent endometrial hyperplasia was observed and it reached the maximum at 4 weeks after operation; the peak protein and gene expressions of Apo J was found at 3 weeks after operation, then decreased at certain point at 4 weeks after operation, P<0.05. Conclusion: Apo J might be closely related to intimal hyperplasia after vascular injury, high expression of vascular Apo J was mainly derived from vascular smooth muscle cell synthesis, it could be a kind of compensation with protective role and might be used as a new biological target for treating vascular retenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention.