ABSTRACT
AIM:To evaluate the expression level of CXC chemokine receptor 7 (CXCR7) in atherosclerotic apolipoprotein E-deficient ( ApoE-/-) mice induced by high-fat diet ( HFD) and the effects of atorvastatin on it .METH-ODS:ApoE-/-male mice (8-week-old) were used and were randomly divided into 3 groups following 1-week normal ro-dent diet:normal diet control (NDC) group , HFD group and HFD+statins (HFD+Sat) group.HE staining and oil red O staining were used to observe the atherosclerotic lesion burdens in the aortas .The expression of CXCR7 on the aortas was detected by Western blot and immunohistochemistry .The expression of Akt and endothelial nitric oxide synthase ( eNOS) in the aorta was determined by Western blot .RESULTS: Few lesions were found in the aortas in NDC group .Apparent atherosclerotic plaque burdens were seen in HFD group and HFD +Sat group, while the atherosclerotic plaque burdens in HFD+Sat group were notably reduced compared with HFD group .The protein levels of CXCR7, eNOS and Akt in aorta in HFD group and HFD+Sat group were significantly decreased compared with NDC group , while those in HFD+Sat group were increased compared with HFD group .The protein level of p-eNOS in the aorta and the concentration of NO in the plas-ma in HFD group were decreased compared with NDC group and HFD +Sat group.CONCLUSION: In ApoE-/-mice, HFD increases the lipid level and promotes the development of atherosclerosis by downregulating the expression of CXCR 7, Akt and eNOS.Atorvastatin reverses the above effect of hypercholesterolemia on the expression of CXCR 7, Akt and eNOS, thus playing the role in treating atherosclerosis .