The Effects Of5-lipoxygenase Pathway In Atherosclerotic ApoE Knockout Mice And The Intervention Of Atorvastatin

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of5-lipoxygenase pathway in atherosclerotic ApoE knockout mice and the influence of atorvastatin to5-lipoxygenase pathway.METHORDS:Thirty-six8-weeks-old ApoE knockout mice were randomized into control group (n=12, normal diet), atherosclerosis group (n=12, high-cholesterol diet) and atorvastatin group (n=12, high-cholesterol diet, atorvastatin10mg/kg/d from ninth week to sixteenth week). Sixteen weeks later, aortic roots were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, The corrected plaque areas of vascular were analyzed through Image—Pro Plus image analysis software. The gene and protein expressions of5-LO in aortic plaques were detected separately through RT-PCR and western blotting analyses. The serum concentration of leukotriene B4and leukotriene D4were measured by ELISA.RESULTS:1. Mice in the-control group did not have atherosclerotic plaques, but mice in the atherosclerosis group and atorvastatin group did. The corrected plaque areas of the aortas of mice in the atorvastatin group were significantly reduced compared with those of the atherosclerosis group (P<0.001).2. The gene arid protein expressions of5-LO in the aortic plaques (P<0.01), as well as the serum levels of leukotriene B4(P<0.001) and leukotriene D4(P<0.001) in control group, were markedly increased compared with those of the atherosclerosis group.3. The gene and protein expressions of5-LO in the aortic plaques (P<0.05), as well as the serum levels of leukotriene B4(P<0.001)and leukotriene D4(P<0.001) in atorvastatin group, were significantly decreased compared with those of the atherosclerosis group.CONCLUSION:1. The5-Lipoxygenase pathway may be involved in the processes of atherosclerosis.2. Atorvastatin significantly alleviated atherosclerotic lesions, reduced plaque vulnerability and inhibited the5-LO pathway in atherosclerotic ApoE-/-mice.