Fenofibrate reduces atherogenesis in ApoE*3Leiden mice: Evidence for multiple antiatherogenic effects besides lowering plasma cholesterol

article
OBJECTIVE - To demonstrate, quantify, and mechanistically dissect antiatherosclerotic effects of fenofibrate besides lowering plasma cholesterol per se. METHODS AND RESULTS - ApoE*3Leiden transgenic mice received either a high-cholesterol diet (HC) or HC containing fenofibrate (HC+FF) resulting in 52% plasma cholesterol-lowering. In a separate low-cholesterol diet (LC) control group, plasma cholesterol was adjusted to the level achieved in the HC+FF group. Low plasma cholesterol alone (assessed in LC) resulted in reduced atherosclerosis (lesion area, number and severity) and moderately decreased plasma serum amyloid-A (SAA) concentrations. Compared with LC, fenofibrate additively reduced lesion area, number and severity, and the total aortic plaque load. This additional effect in HC+FF was paralleled by an extra reduction of aortic inflammation (macrophage content; monocyte adhesion; intercellular adhesion molecule-1 [ICAM-1], soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), MCP-1, and NF-κB expression), systemic inflammation (plasma SAA and fibrinogen levels), and by an upregulation of plasma apoE levels. Also, enhanced expression of ABC-A1 and SR-B1 in aortic macrophages may contribute to the antiatherosclerotic effect of fenofibrate by promoting cholesterol efflux. CONCLUSION - Fenofibrate reduces atherosclerosis more than can be explained by lowering total plasma cholesterol per se. Impaired recruitment of monocytes/macrophages, reduced vascular and systemic inflammation, and stimulation of cholesterol efflux may all contribute to these beneficial effect of fenofibrate. © 2006 American Heart Association, Inc. Chemicals / CAS: cholesterol, 57-88-5; fenofibrate, 49562-28-9; fibrinogen, 9001-32-5; intercellular adhesion molecule 1, 126547-89-5; Antilipemic Agents; apolipoprotein E3 (Leidein); Apolipoprotein E3; Apolipoproteins E; Cholesterol, 57-88-5; Lipids; Lipoproteins; Procetofen, 49562-28-9
TNO Identifier
239512
ISSN
10795642
Source
Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, 26(10), pp. 2322-2330.
Pages
2322-2330
Files
To receive the publication files, please send an e-mail request to TNO Repository.