Ying Zhang1, Xiangbo An2, Qiuyue Lin3, Jie Bai4, Feng Wang5, Jiawei Liao6. 1. Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, No.193, Lianhe Road, Xigang District, Dalian 116011, China. 2. Department of Interventional Therapy, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116011, China. 3. Department of Cardiology, Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, No.193, Lianhe Road, Xigang District, Dalian 116011, China. 4. Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Dalian Medical University, No. 9W, Lvshun South Road, Lvshunkou District, Dalian 116044, China. 5. Department of Interventional Therapy, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116011, China. Electronic address: cjr.wangfeng@vip.163.com. 6. Department of Cardiology, Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, No.193, Lianhe Road, Xigang District, Dalian 116011, China. Electronic address: liaojiawei@bjmu.edu.cn.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: For a long time, our major understanding of the spleen is to function as a blood filter for the removal of aged erythrocytes and circulating microorganisms. Splenectomy, therefore, has been widely performed in case of trauma and a variety of hematologic disorders. Although some studies have indicated an increased rate of developing hyperlipidemia and atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases in splenectomized patients, our recognition of the splenic regulation on lipid metabolism and atherogenesis is still lacking. Here we explored this issue in Apoe deficient (Apoe-/-) mice fed on an atherogenic diet containing 0.5% cholesterol and 20% fat. METHODS: 7-week-old male Apoe-/- mice were randomly divided into splenectomy group and sham operation group. After 1-week recovery from the surgery, mice were subjected to the atherogenic diet for the next 8 weeks. RESULTS: The atherogenic diet induced a severe hypercholesterolemia (about 1500 mg/dl), steatohepatitis and accelerated atherogenesis in the Apoe-/- mice. Splenectomy, compared to sham operation, did not alter plasma lipid levels or lipoprotein profiles; it also did not alter hepatic or adipose lipid deposition. Meanwhile, splenectomy did not alter atherosclerotic plaque burden or composition; it also did not alter aortic gene expression associated with macrophage inflammatory responses. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggested that splenectomy had no significant impacts on lipid metabolism and atherogenesis in Apoe-/- mice fed on a severe atherogenic diet.
BACKGROUND: For a long time, our major understanding of the spleen is to function as a blood filter for the removal of aged erythrocytes and circulating microorganisms. Splenectomy, therefore, has been widely performed in case of trauma and a variety of hematologic disorders. Although some studies have indicated an increased rate of developing hyperlipidemia and atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases in splenectomized patients, our recognition of the splenic regulation on lipid metabolism and atherogenesis is still lacking. Here we explored this issue in Apoe deficient (Apoe-/-) mice fed on an atherogenic diet containing 0.5% cholesterol and 20% fat. METHODS: 7-week-old male Apoe-/- mice were randomly divided into splenectomy group and sham operation group. After 1-week recovery from the surgery, mice were subjected to the atherogenic diet for the next 8 weeks. RESULTS: The atherogenic diet induced a severe hypercholesterolemia (about 1500 mg/dl), steatohepatitis and accelerated atherogenesis in the Apoe-/- mice. Splenectomy, compared to sham operation, did not alter plasma lipid levels or lipoprotein profiles; it also did not alter hepatic or adipose lipid deposition. Meanwhile, splenectomy did not alter atherosclerotic plaque burden or composition; it also did not alter aortic gene expression associated with macrophage inflammatory responses. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggested that splenectomy had no significant impacts on lipid metabolism and atherogenesis in Apoe-/- mice fed on a severe atherogenic diet.