Hyperuricemia (HU) is a cause of
gout. Clinical studies show a link between HU and
cardiovascular disease. However, the role of soluble serum
urate (SU) on
atherosclerosis development remains elusive. We aimed to use a new HU mouse model [
Uricase/Uox knockout (KO)] to further investigate the relationship between HU and
atherosclerosis. A mouse model by perivascular collar placement of induced
carotid atherosclerosis was established in male Uox-KO mice. The Uox-KO mice had elevated SU levels and enhanced levels of
atherosclerosis inflammatory response
proteins. In contrast, Uox-KO mice with
carotid atherosclerosis showed severe neointimal changes in histology staining consistent with increases in intimal area and increases in
proliferating cell nuclear antigen (
PCNA)- and F4/80-positive cells.
Allopurinol reduced neointimal areas induced by the perivascular collar in hyperuricemic mice, accompanied by decreased expression of
PCNA- and F4/80-positive cells.
Urate-lowering treatment alleviated
atherosclerosis inflammatory response factors and
reactive oxygen species (ROS) intensities in both collar placement Uox-KO mice and
urate-stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). In vitro results using HUVECs showed ROS was induced by
urate and ROS induction was abrogated using
antioxidants. These data demonstrate that
urate per se does not trigger
atherosclerosis intima lesions in male mice.
Urate worsens carotid neointimal lesions induced by the perivascular collar and
urate-lowering
therapy partially abrogates the effects. The current study warrants clinical studies on the possible benefits of
urate-lowering
therapy in
atherosclerosis patients with HU.