Effect of clopidogrel on inflammation in atherosclerotic rabbits

OBJECTIVE To observe the effects of ADP receptor blocker clopidogrel on the levels of serum (hs-CRP) and nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB) in atherosclerotic plaque in rabbit models.METHODS Twenty-seven New Zealand male rabbits were randomly divided into normal control group(NC group,n=9),high-cholesterol group(HC group,n=9) and high-cholesterol plus clopidogrel group(HC+C group,n=9) and then were fed for 12 weeks. enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was employed to monitor the levels of serum hs-CRP and plaque tissue NF-κB in vascular wall,the plaque area of aorta and the neointima thickness were performed with histomorphometry analysis.RESULTS The levels of serum hs-CRP and vascular wall NF-κB p65 subunit, the neointima thickness and plaque area of aorta in the HC group and HC+C group were significantly increased compared with the NC group(P0.05).There was no significantly difference in the serum lipids between the HC group and HC+C group(P0.05),the levels of serum hs-CRP and vascular wall NF-κB p65,the neointima thickness and plaque area of aorta in the HC+C group were significantly decreased compared with the NC group(P0.05).CONCLUSION The study suggested that clopidogel could decrease atherosclerosis and inflammation.