Effect Of Baicalin On Atherosclerosis And TAFI Level In Rabbits

Background:Atherosclerosis,the common pathophysiological cause of angina,myocardial infarction,and stroke,progresses slowly and involves multiple factors.Recent studies have shown that the initiative and development of atherosclerosis may be associated with impairment of the coagulating and the fibrinolytic systems.Thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor(TAFI),a glycoprotein linking coagulation and fibrinolysis,has been postulated to participate in the development of atherosclerosis by suppressing fibrinolysis and modulating inflammation as well.Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi(S.baicalensis)is a widely used herb in traditional medical systems of China and Baicalin(monomer)is one of its main active constituents.The vitro experiments of Baicalin have proved that it has antibacteria, antivirus,and antiinflammation activities.It also can inhibit platelet aggregation, eliminate oxygen free radicals and suppress proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMC).These pleiotropic effects of Baicalin are likely to contribute to the prevention of atherosclerosis.In this study,we determined the effects of Baicalin on the level of TAFI in rabbits and explored their roles in pathogenesis of AS and thus provide a novel target for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerotic diseases.Objective:The aim of this study is to detect the plasma level of thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor(TAFI),blood fat,blood coagulation and inflammation in the different dose of baicalin through the atherosclerotic model of rabbits and investigate the effect of baicalin on atherosclerosis and TAFI level.Methods:Totally 40 healthy rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups(n=10),controls group,non-drug treatment group,baicalin high dose group, baicalin low dose group.Last three groups were model groups.Controls group were fed with normal diet,and the other model groups were fed with high lipid and given different dose of baicalin,in order to copy model of AS in rabbits.Then we measured TC,TG,LDL and Fib,measured Hs-CRP,IL-6,SAA and NO by ELISA,measured the activity of TAFI by a chromogenic assay.Results:(1)We copied the atherosclerotic model of rabbits after 12 weeks successfully.(2)TC,TG,LDL-C,SAA in plasma of three model groups increased obviously compared with the controls(P<0.05 or P<0.01),HDL-C,NO and APTT in plasma of three model groups decreaed obviously compared with the controls(P< 0.05 or P<0.01).Level ofTAFI,PT,Fig,Hs-CRP,IL-6 in high dose group does not show difference.(3)After drug treatment,TC,TG,LDL-C,Fib,Hs-CRP,IL-6,SAA and the activity level of TAFI in plasma of drug treatment group were lower than that of non-drug treatment group obviously(P<0.01),NO,HDL-C,PT and APTT in plasma of drug treatment group were higher than that of non-drug treatment group obviously(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Difference also existed between high and low dose groups(P<0.05).Conclusions:(1)We copied the atherosclerotic model of rabbits after 12 weeks successfully(2)The activity level of TAFI in plasma of three model groups increased obviously which indicated that TAFI participates in the process of atherosclerosis.(3)The TC,TG,LDL-C,Fib,Hs-CRP,IL-6,SAA and the activity level of TAFI in plasma of drug treatment group being lower showed that baicalin delayed the development of AS and decreased the level of TAFI significantly.It indicated us that baicalin may interfere in atherosclerotic diseases.