The anti-athetotic effects of heme-L-lysinate in a rabbit model of atherosclerosis / 中华心血管病杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the anti-atherotic effects of heme-L-lysinate in a rabbit model of atherosclerosis and related machanisms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Adult rabbits were treated with 1% cholesterol diet (chol group, n = 8) or 1% cholesterol diet plus heme-L-lysinate (9 mgxkg(-1)xd(-1), Heme group, n = 8) or 1% cholesterol diet plus isotonic Na chloride (Na chloride group, n = 8) for 10 weeks. Eight rabbits fed with normal diet served as normal control. Aortic carbon monoxide (CO) was quantified spectrophotometrically by the formation of carboxyhaemoglobin (HbCO). Aortic heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and HSP70 mRNA and protein expressions were detected by RT-PCR and immunohistochemical staining.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Aortic CO production and HO-1 activity were significantly increased in chol group and Na chloride group compared those in normal control group (P < 0.01). Aortic plaque area was significantly reduced in heme group (26.6% +/- 9.2%) than that in chol group (42.3% +/- 8.7%, P < 0.01). Aortic HO-1 expression, CO production and HSP70 were significantly increased in heme group than those in chol group and Na chloride group (all P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Heme-L-lysinate could attenuate atherosclerotic progression through upregulating HO-1 and HSP70 expression and increasing CO production in this model.</p>