Systematic and Endothelial Inflammation Status and Endothelial Progenitor Cell Levels in Peripheral Blood in Intermittent Hypoxia and Emphysema Rat Model / 天津医药

ABSTRACT

Objective To establish the rat overlap syndrome (OS) model of intermittent hypoxia (IH) and emphyse-ma, explore the systematic and endothelial inflammation status, and observe the changes of endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) level in peripheral blood. Methods Sixty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groupsnormal oxygen control group (A), IH group (B), emphysema group (C) and OS group (D). The rat model of emphysema was established by smoke ex-posure for 16 weeks. From the 13-week, pre-programmed intermittent hypoxia/re-oxygenation (IH/ROX) exposure was giv-en in the meantime of smoke exposure. After exposure, ELISA method was used to detect values of tumor necrosis factor al-pha (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-6 in plasma and in the endothelium of right common carotid artery. Real-time-PCR assay was used to analyze RhoA mRNA level in the endothelium of right common carotid artery. The percentage of intima-media thickness (IMT) in the all wall of right carotid artery (C-IMT%) was measured. Flow cytometry was used to detect EPC levels. Results The values of TNF-α, IL-6, RhoA mRNA and C-IMT%were significantly higher in D group than those of A, B and C groups (P<0.05). The EPC levels were significantly lower in D group than those of A, B and C groups (P<0.05). Con-clusion OS rats had more serious vascular endothelial injury than that of emphysema or IH rats. Meanwhile, the repair ca-pacity of EPC for endothelium was worse, which increased the risk of cardiovascular diseases.