Rosuvastatin protects against endothelial cell apoptosis in vitro and alleviates atherosclerosis in ApoE-/- mice by suppressing endoplasmic reticulum stress

Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine
Jianan GengDayun Sui

Abstract

The development of abnormal lipid-induced atherosclerosis is initiated with endothelial cell apoptosis. Vascular endothelial cells possess highly developed endoplasmic reticulum (ER), which is involved in lipid metabolism, indicating that ER stress may contribute chiefly to the induction of endothelial cell apoptosis. Based on its ability to reduce cholesterol levels, rosuvastatin may play an endothelial and vascular protective role by regulating ER stress. In the present study, the involvement of the inhibition of the ER stress-induced endothelial injury was investigated in combination with the lipid lowering effects of rosuvastatin. This compound can be used to inhibit cholesterol synthesis in atherosclerosis. Rosuvastatin decreased the apoptotic rates of human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) that had been stimulated with ox-low density lipoprotein (LDL) in vitro and repressed the mRNA levels of CHOP, sXBP1 and caspase-12, and decreased caspase-12 activity, as well as the content of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), phosphorylated (p)-protein kinase RNA-like ER kinase (PERK), p-inositol-requiring protein 1α (IRE1α) and p-eIF2α proteins. In addition, ApoE-/- mice were fed with atherogenic chow for 8 weeks for...Continue Reading

Methods Mentioned

BETA
protein assay
PCR
flow cytometry
protein folding

Software Mentioned

SPSS
BD [UNK]
Image
ImageJ
Pro Plus
Photoshop

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

ApoE, Lipids & Cholesterol

Serum cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoprotein B (APOB)-containing lipoproteins (very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), immediate-density lipoprotein (IDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), lipoprotein A (LPA)) and the total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ratio are all connected in diseases. Here is the latest research.

Apoptosis

Apoptosis is a specific process that leads to programmed cell death through the activation of an evolutionary conserved intracellular pathway leading to pathognomic cellular changes distinct from cellular necrosis

ApoE Phenotypes

Apolipoprotein E (APOE) is a protein involved in fat metabolism and associated with the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease and cardiovascular disease. Here is the latest research on APOE phenotypes.

Atherosclerosis Disease Progression

Atherosclerosis is the buildup of plaque on artery walls, causing stenosis which can eventually lead to clinically apparent cardiovascular disease. Find the latest research on atherosclerosis disease progression here.