Feng Zhu1, Cai Li1, Xiao-Ping Jin1, Shou-Xiang Weng2, Li-Long Fan3, Zhou Zheng1, Wei-Ling Li1, Feng Wang1, Wan-Fen Wang1, Xiao-Fei Hu1, Chen-Ling Lv1, Peng Liu1. 1. Department of Neurology, Taizhou Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College Taizhou, Zhejiang Province, P.R. China. 2. Department of Pathology, Taizhou Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College Taizhou, Zhejiang Province, P.R. China. 3. Department of General Practice, Taizhou Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College Taizhou, Zhejiang Province, P.R. China.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Celastrol may have an anti-atherosclerosis effect. This study aimed to investigate if celastrol had an anti-AS effect using a rabbit experimental carotid atherosclerosis model. METHODS: Forty male Japanese white rabbits were divided into the sham group (normal diet), the model group (high fat diet), the group treated with celastrol (high fat diet) and the group treated with atorvastatin (high fat diet) randomly. The rabbits fed a high fat diet underwent balloon injury of the right common carotid artery and were treated with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) (the model group, 3.5 ml/kg/d), celastrol and its dissolvent DMSO (the celastrol group, 1 mg/kg/d and 3.5 ml/kg/d) and atorvastatin and its dissolvent DMSO (the atorvastatin group, 2.5 mg/kg/d and 3.5 ml/kg/d) for 12 weeks by gavage. RESULTS: The ratio of the plaque area and the arterial wall cross-section area in the celastrol group was significantly less than the model group (P < 0.001), and there was no significant difference compared with the atorvastatin group. The serum level of LDL-C of the celastrol group was significantly lower than the model group (P = 0.014), and there was no significant difference compared with the atorvastatin group. The expression of VEGF in the celastrol group was significantly less compared with the model group (P = 0.014), whereas the expression of VEGF in the atorvastatin group and the model group showed no significant differences. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that celastrol effectively reduced the plaque ratio, decreased the serum levels of LDL and downregulated the expression of VEGF, suggesting an anti-AS effect of celastrol.
BACKGROUND:Celastrol may have an anti-atherosclerosis effect. This study aimed to investigate if celastrol had an anti-AS effect using a rabbit experimental carotid atherosclerosis model. METHODS: Forty male Japanese white rabbits were divided into the sham group (normal diet), the model group (high fat diet), the group treated with celastrol (high fat diet) and the group treated with atorvastatin (high fat diet) randomly. The rabbits fed a high fat diet underwent balloon injury of the right common carotid artery and were treated with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) (the model group, 3.5 ml/kg/d), celastrol and its dissolvent DMSO (the celastrol group, 1 mg/kg/d and 3.5 ml/kg/d) and atorvastatin and its dissolvent DMSO (the atorvastatin group, 2.5 mg/kg/d and 3.5 ml/kg/d) for 12 weeks by gavage. RESULTS: The ratio of the plaque area and the arterial wall cross-section area in the celastrol group was significantly less than the model group (P < 0.001), and there was no significant difference compared with the atorvastatin group. The serum level of LDL-C of the celastrol group was significantly lower than the model group (P = 0.014), and there was no significant difference compared with the atorvastatin group. The expression of VEGF in the celastrol group was significantly less compared with the model group (P = 0.014), whereas the expression of VEGF in the atorvastatin group and the model group showed no significant differences. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that celastrol effectively reduced the plaque ratio, decreased the serum levels of LDL and downregulated the expression of VEGF, suggesting an anti-AS effect of celastrol.
Authors: Mark Fisher; Annlia Paganini-Hill; Aldana Martin; Michele Cosgrove; James F Toole; Henry J M Barnett; John Norris Journal: Stroke Date: 2005-01-13 Impact factor: 7.914
Authors: Larry B Goldstein; Cheryl D Bushnell; Robert J Adams; Lawrence J Appel; Lynne T Braun; Seemant Chaturvedi; Mark A Creager; Antonio Culebras; Robert H Eckel; Robert G Hart; Judith A Hinchey; Virginia J Howard; Edward C Jauch; Steven R Levine; James F Meschia; Wesley S Moore; J V Ian Nixon; Thomas A Pearson Journal: Stroke Date: 2010-12-02 Impact factor: 7.914