Dynamic Expressions of Tenascin-C at Different Phases of Atherosclerosis in ApoE-/- Mice / 中国循环杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective: To investigate the dynamic expressions of tenascin-C (TN-C) at different phases of atherosclerosis in ApoE-/-mice. Methods: Our research included in 2 groups ApoE-/- group, n=50 SPF male mice with ApoE-/- and Control group, n=50 wild male C57BL/6 mice. Atherosclerosis model was established by high fat diet in both groups. The mice were sacrificed at 4, 8, 16, 24 and 32 weeks, blood lipids were examined, pathologic changes of plaque were observed by microscope for quantitative analysis and TN-C expressions in atherosclerosis plaque were measured by immunohistochemistry. Results: Compared with Control group, ApoE-/- group had elevated blood levels of total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), both P<0.05. In ApoE-/- group, plaque area and the ratio of plaque area/lumen area were increasing upon prolonged modeling time, all P<0.05; TN-C expressions were increasing by progress of atherosclerosis, the highest TN-C expression was found at 32 weeks of modeling (0.49±0.07) which was higher than it was at 8 weeks (0.04±0.02), 16 weeks (0.12±0.03) and 24 weeks (0.21±0.04), all P<0.05. Conclusion: TN-C expression was increasing with plaque progress which might be related to the development of atherosclerosis and plaque instability.