Influence of Pioglitazone on NF-κB/MCP-1 expression in hyperlipidemia rat

Objective To investigate the influence of pioglitazone on expressions of NF-κB/MCP-1 in aorta of rats with hyperlipidemia. Methods The 26 male SD rats were divided into control group (n=9) and high-fat diet group (n=17) according to random number table. Rats in high-fat diet group fed with hypercholesterol diet for 12 weeks, then divided into model group (n=8) and pioglitazone treated group (n=9) according to random number table. 4 weeks later, serum lipid level and blood glucose of all rats were measured and expressions of NF-κB/MCP-1 in aorta of all rats were analyzed by immunohistochemical method. Results After feeding for 12 weeks, serum lipid levels of high-fat diet group were significantly higher than control group [ (1.729±0.472)mmol/L vs. (0.929±0.150)mmol/L for TG, (2.981±0.318)mmol/L vs. (1.831±0.226)mmol/L for TC and (0.499±0.337)mmol/L vs. (0.195±0.051)mmol/L for LDL-C, all P<0.05], and aortic endothelial tissue was largely intact, occasionally dropping, proliferation of smooth muscle cells was not obvious. Intervention with pioglitazone for 4 weeks, compared with model group, serum levels of TC and TG in pioglitazone treated group were significantly decreased [ (0.731±0.319) mmol/L vs. (1.534±0.172)mmol/L and (1.720±0.249)mmol/L vs. (3.084±0.984)mmol/L, both P<0.05], and expressions of NF-κB/MCP-1 were also reduced significantly [ (0.506±0.083) vs. (0.215±0.021) and (0.378±0.100) vs. (0.167±0.012), both P<0.01]. Compared with control group, expressions of NF-κB/MCP-1 in pioglitazone treated group were significantly decreased [ (0.250±0.033) vs. (0.506±0.083) and (0.171±0.012) vs. (0.378±0.100), both P<0.01]. Conclusions Pioglitazone can inhibit arterial intimal injury in rats with hyperlipidemia. Key words: Pioglitazone; Dyslipidemias; Atherosclerosis; NF-kappa B; Monocyte chemoattractant proteins