Association of dendritic cell distribution with intima hyperplasia in rats with diabetes mellitus / 南方医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the association of dendritic cell distribution in the peripheral blood, spleen and arterial wall with intimal hyperplasia in rats with diabetes mellitus.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Diabetes mellitus was induced in rats by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin and high-fat feeding for 8 weeks. Peripheral blood, arterial wall and the spleen were collected from the rats to prepare cell suspensions, in which the proportions of dendritic cells and T cells were determined by flow cytometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The tunica intimal hyperplasia was more obvious in diabetic rats with or without high-fat feeding as compared with that of the control rats (P<0.05), and their dendritic cells decreased significantly in the peripheral blood (P<0.05) but increased in the arterial wall. The percentage of T cells was also increased in the peripheral blood and arterial wall of the diabetic rats.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Changes in the distribution of dendritic cells and T cells are closely associated with intimal hyperplasia in diabetic rats, suggesting the involvement of dendritic cells and T cells in the formation of atherosclerosis.</p>