Previous investigations have shown that a single dose of
low-density lipoprotein (
LDL) injection causes a marked decrease in endothelium-dependent relaxation, and that endothelial dysfunction aggravates myocardial injury due to
ischemia-reperfusion in atherosclerotic animals.
Monophosphoryl lipid A-induced delayed preconditioning preserves the ischemic myocardium and endothelial cells. The objective of the present study was to examine the effect of
monophosphoryl lipid A on endothelial function and
ischemia-reperfusion-induced myocardial injury in the rats treated with
LDL. A single injection of native
LDL (4 mg/kg, i.v.) caused a significant decrease in
vasodilator responses to
acetylcholine and an increase in the serum level of
asymmetric dimethylarginine, the endogenous
nitric oxide synthase inhibitor. Pretreatment with
monophosphoryl lipid A (300 or 450 microg/kg, i.p.) significantly improved endothelium-dependent relaxation and decreased concentrations of
asymmetric dimethylarginine, and the effects of
monophosphoryl lipid A were attenuated by L-nitro-
arginine-methylester, but not by
aminoguanidine.
LDL treatment only aggravated the decreased coronary flows but did not affect cardiac dysfunction due to
ischemia-reperfusion in the rats treated with
LDL. Pretreatment with
monophosphoryl lipid A significantly improved cardiac dysfunction by
ischemia-reperfusion in the rats treated with or without
LDL, an effect that was abolished by
aminoguanidine. The present study suggests that: (1) a single injection of native
LDL causes a decrease in endothelium-dependent relaxation, and aggravates the decrease of coronary flow due to
ischemia-reperfusion, (2) pretreatment with
monophosphoryl lipid A protects the myocardium against
ischemia-reperfusion in the rats treated with or without native
LDL, and (3) the protective effect of
monophosphoryl lipid A on endothelial cells is related to reduction of
asymmetric dimethylarginine level.