Celastrol down-regulates expressions of MIF and MMP-9 in the aorta of ApoE gene knockout mice / 第三军医大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effects of celastrol on the expressions of macrophage migration inhibitory factor(MIF)and matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9)in the aorta of apoE gene knockout mice with earlier atherosclerosis.Methods Eight-week-old ApoE gene knockout male mice were divided randomly into control group and celastrol treatment group(n=6 in each group).The mice in celastrol group were given.celastrol(2 mg?kg-1?d-1)by intraperitoneal injection for 4 weeks;and the mice in control group were only given equivalent amount of dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO).HE staining of root aorta were used to observe the histomorphological changes and measure the size of plaque in ApoE-/-mice.The expressions of MIF and MMP-9 were detected by immunological histochemical method.Results The area of lipid plaque in the mice treated with celastrol was significantly smaller than that of the control(P