Yellow wine and red wine inhibit matrix metalloproteinase-2 and improve pathological changes of atherosclerosis in LDL receptor knockout mice / 中国病理生理杂志

ABSTRACT

AIM: To study the possibility that yellow wine improves the pathological changes of atherosclerosis in vivo. METHODS: Six weeks old LDL receptor knockout mice (n=48) on a high-fat and L-methionine diet developed plasma hyperhomocysteinemia and atherosclerosis. The animals were randomly divided into yellow wine group, red wine group, ethanol group and control group (n=12 in each group) and were sacrificed after 14 weeks. The levels of plasma lipids and homocysteine in serum were examined. The morphological changes of aorta artery and the atherosclerosis of aorta sinus were observed under microscope. The expression and activation of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) were determined by the method of immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: No significant difference of plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride or high density lipoprotein cholesterol among groups was observed. Plasma homocysteine was significantly decreased in yellow wine group as compared to other three groups (P<0.01). Compared to ethanol and control groups, use of yellow wine and red wine significantly reduced the atherosclerosis lesion area (P<0.01). However, no significant discrepancy between the yellow wine group and red wine group was found. Compared to control group, the expression of MMP-2 in yellow wine group, red wine group and ethanol group decreased by 26.3%, 27.6% (P<0.01) and 5.7% (P>0.05), respectively. The activity of MMP-2 in yellow wine group, red wine group and ethanol group decreased by 31.7%, 32.5% (P<0.01) and 6.7% (P>0.05), respectively. CONCLUSION: Yellow wine and red wine inhibit the expression of MMP-2 and improve the pathologic changes of atherosclerosis, indicating that they have benefic effects on cardiovascular system.