The world's first wiki where authorship really matters (Nature Genetics, 2008). Due credit and reputation for authors. Imagine a global collaborative knowledge base for original thoughts. Search thousands of articles and collaborate with scientists around the globe.
wikigene or wiki gene protein drug chemical gene disease author authorship tracking evolutionary knowledge reputation system wiki2.0 global collaboration genes proteins drugs chemicals diseases compound
Hoffmann, R. A wiki for the life sciences where authorship matters. Nature Genetics (2008)
 
 
 
 

Pravastatin inhibits expression of lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 ( LOX-1) in Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic rabbits: a new pleiotropic effect of statins.

BACKGROUND: LOX-1, a receptor for oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL), seems to play a critical role in foam cell formation of macrophages (Mphis) and smooth muscle cells (SMC). Inhibition of LOX-1 expression reduces foam cell formation and might influence lipid core formation in atherosclerotic lesions. Because statins are able to downregulate LOX-1 expression in vitro, we examined if pravastatin can be used to reduce LOX-1 expression and lipid core formation in lesions of Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbits. METHODS AND RESULTS: Pravastatin downregulated LOX-1 expression in cultured human Mphis and in cultured human aortic SMCs. Homozygous WHHL rabbits were treated with 50 mg kg(-1) d(-1) pravastatin for 32 weeks. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that LOX-1 was expressed in intimal Mphis and SMCs of atherosclerotic lesions. The pravastatin-treated rabbits showed, compared with untreated rabbits, a significantly reduced LOX-1 protein and mRNA expression in the aortic arch. Lipid labeling of this aorta region also demonstrated a strong reduction of the ratio of lipid core area/total lesion area in pravastatin-treated rabbits. CONCLUSIONS: The in vivo inhibition of LOX-1 expression by pravastatin demonstrated here represents a new pleiotropic effect of pravastatin. This in vivo inhibition of LOX-1 might be one mechanism for the lipid core reducing effect of pravastatin in atherogenesis.[1]

References

  1. Pravastatin inhibits expression of lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) in Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic rabbits: a new pleiotropic effect of statins. Hofnagel, O., Luechtenborg, B., Eschert, H., Weissen-Plenz, G., Severs, N.J., Robenek, H. Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol. (2006)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
[search][advanced]

Editor

Links