RESUMO
Objective To observe the expression changes of cyclophilin A ( CyPA ) , Krüppel-like factor 2 (KLF2),and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in the pathological process of atherosclerosis in rats. Methods Thirty-two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups:a control group and atherosclerosis 8,12,and 15 week groups (n=8 in each group). The atherosclerosis groups were fed with high-fat diet,and they were given vitamin D3 600 000 IU for a single intraperitoneal injection,and the rats in the control group were fed with the basal feed. The rats were sacrificed at 8,12,and 15 weeks. Their abdominal aortas were separated and stained with hematoxylin-eosin staining. Immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression levels of CyPA,KLF2,and eNOS on arterial walls. Results With the progression of atherosclerosis lesion,the rats in the control group,and atherosclerosis 8,12,and 15 week groups showed different characteristics, including normal vessel structure, endothelial cell damage, smooth muscle cell proliferation,formation of atherosclerotic plaque,and formation of calcified plaque. There were significantly differences in the expression levels of CyPA,KLF2,eNOS on vessel walls among the control group,atherosclerosis 8,12,and 15 week groups (CyPA:0. 0037 ± 0. 0018,0. 0276 ± 0. 0090,0. 0526 ± 0. 0129,and 0. 1080 ± 0. 0388;KLF2:0. 0932 ± 0. 0331,0. 0415 ± 0. 0076,0. 0207 ± 0. 0059, and 0. 0014 ± 0. 0003;eNOS:0. 0358 ± 0. 0185,0. 0148 ± 0. 0080,0. 0049 ± 0. 0025,0. 0037 ± 0. 0026;F=36. 395,42. 108,and 21. 255,respectively,all P<0. 05),and the CyPA expression showed an increasing trend among groups, and there were significant differences between the pairwise comparisons (all P<0. 05). The expression level of KLF2 showed a progressive declining trend,and there were significant differences between pairwise comparisons (all P <0. 05);there was significant difference in eNOS expression between the atherosclerosis 12-week group and the atherosclerosis 15-week group, and there were significant differences among other groups (all P<0. 05). Conclusion With the progression of atherosclerotic lesions, the expression of CyPA increases progressively, and the expression levels of KLF2 and eNOS decrease progressively. This may be one of the approaches of CyPA caused atherosclerotic lesion.