The Effects of Pioglitazone on the Expression of CD40L in High-Cholesterol Diet Rabbit Aorta

Aim To test the hypothesis that Pioglitazone decrease CD40L expression in hypercholesterolemia rabbit aorta. Methods 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 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.CD40L was detected by immunohistochemistry, lectin-like oxidized low density lipoprotein receptor-1(LOX-1) mRNA was evaluated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). Results Aortic intimal hyperplasia and smooth muscle cells proliferation in rabbits fed with high-cholesterol diet were decreased.Pioglitazone could improve high density lipoprotein and decrease the expression of CD40L and LOX-1 mRNA in hypercholesterolemia rabbits aorta. Conclusions Pioglitazone can inhibit the upregulation of LOX-1 in hypercholesterolemia rabbits aorta and decrease CD40L expression.These observation provide novel insight into a potential novel antiinflammatory and antiatherosclerosis pathway of thiazolidinediones.