TLR4-mediated anti-atherosclerosis mechanisms of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor--fosinopril.

Abstract

Recently, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) has gained increasing attention for its anti-atherosclerosis activity, but the underlying mechanism is unknown. In our study, we used rabbits fed with high-fat forage, as an atherosclerosis model to investigate the effect of fosinopril, which is an ACEI. Animals which received both high-fat forage and fosinopril, were maintained as the drug-treated group. Ultrasonography and Sudan III staining were used to determine the process of atherosclerosis. The expression of TLR4 and activity NF-κB were determined using western blot, RT-PCR and ELISA. The results showed that the atherosclerotic plaque was visible at sixteen weeks. More importantly, the atherosclerotic plaque was significantly decreased after fosinopril treatment. In the atherosclerosis model, the levels of TLR4 and NF-κB were increased, but this increased expression was inhibited in the fosinopril treated group. Our results demonstrated that TLR4 could be used as a potential biomarker for atherosclerosis and ACEI has the potential to be a new anti-atherosclerotic drug.

• Authors: Shuansuo Yang, Ruogu Li, Lei Tang, Xinkai Qu, Guanghao Ge, Jiangwei Ma, Huajin Liu, Zengyong Qiao, Weiyi Fang
• Journal: Cellular immunology (Cell Immunol) 2013 Sep-Oct Vol. 285 Issue 1-2 Pg. 38-41 ISSN: 1090-2163 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 24044965 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
• Biomarkers
• NF-kappa B
• Toll-Like Receptor 4
• Fosinopril

Topics

• Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Animals
• Atherosclerosis (drug therapy, immunology)
• Biomarkers
• Diet, High-Fat
• Fosinopril (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• NF-kappa B (metabolism)
• Plaque, Atherosclerotic (drug therapy)
• Rabbits
• Toll-Like Receptor 4 (immunology, metabolism)