Effects of Pioglitazone on expression of LOX-1 in aorta of high-cholesterol diet rabbits

[Objective] To explore the effects of Pioglitazone on atherosclerosis and the expression LOX-1 in aorta of rabbits fed with high-cholesterol diet. [Method] 15 male healthy New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into three groups: control group(n =5)was fed with normal diet for eight weeks; high cholesterol group(n =5) was fed with high-cholesterol diet for eight weeks; Pioglitazone treatment group(n =5) was fed with high-cholesterol diet for eight weeks supplemented with Pioglitazone(3 mg/kg·d) from the fourth week of cholesterol diet. The aortic pathological menifestation and plasma lipid in these groups were compared. LOX-1 molecule was detected by immunohistochemistry, LOX-1 mRNA was evaluated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). [Results] Pioglitazone decreased aortic intimal hyperplasia and smooth muscle cell proliferation in rabbit fed with high-cholesterol diet. Pioglitazone can also increase high density lipoprotein and decrese the expression of LOX-1 molecule and LOX-1 mRNA in the aorta of hypercholesterolemia rabbits aortic. [Conclusion] Pioglitazone can inhibit the upregulation of LOX-1 molecule and mRNA in the aorta of hypercholesterolemia rabbits. These observations provide novel insight into a potential antiatherosclerosis pathway of Thiazolidinediones.