Olmesartan and pravastatin additively reduce development of atherosclerosis in APOE*3Leiden transgenic mice
article
AIM: This study was designed to investigate the effect of the angiotensin II receptor blocker olmesartan alone, or in combination with standard treatment with a statin, pravastatin, on atherosclerosis development in APOE*3Leiden transgenic mice. METHODS AND RESULTS: Four groups of 15 mice received an atherogenic diet alone (plasma cholesterol 17.4 ± 2.7 mmol/l) or supplemented with either 0.008% (w/w) olmesartan (9.3 mg/kg per day) (plasma cholesterol 16.4 ± 3.9 mmol/l), 0.03% (w/w) pravastatin (35 mg/kg per day) (plasma cholesterol 14.6 ± 2.6 mmol/l), or the combination of both (plasma cholesterol 14.5 ± 2.9 mmol/l) for 6 months. Treatment with olmesartan or pravastatin reduced the development of atherosclerosis as compared to the control group (-46 and -39%, respectively). Pravastatin also reduced the severity of the lesions. As compared to control the combination of both treatments almost fully prevented atherosclerosis (-91%, P < 0.001) and strongly reduced lesion number (-69%), lesion severity (-79%), number of macrophages (-89%) and T lymphocytes (-86%) per cross-section. Treatment with olmesartan alone and in combination with pravastatin inhibited the adhesion of monocytes to the vessel wall (-22%; P < 0.05 and -25%; P < 0.01, respectively), and reduced the relative quantity of macrophages in the lesions (-38%; P < 0.05 and -26%; NS, respectively) as compared to control. CONCLUSION: Olmesartan reduced atherosclerosis development mainly by decreasing monocyte adhesion and the relative amount of macrophages, whereas pravastatin inhibited the progression of atherosclerosis to more advanced lesions, reflecting different anti-atherosclerotic modes of action of the two drugs. Combination therapy with olmesartan and pravastatin additively reduced atherosclerosis development, resulting in less and less severe lesions. © 2007 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.
Topics
Biomedical ResearchAPOE*3Leiden miceAtherosclerosisCombination therapyOlmesartanPravastatinT lymphocytetransgenic mouseAngiotensin II Type 1 Receptor BlockersAnimalsApolipoprotein E3AtherosclerosisBlood PressureCollagenDiet, AtherogenicDrug SynergismFemaleHumansHydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase InhibitorsImidazolesInflammationLipidsMacrophagesMiceMice, TransgenicMonocytesMuscle, Smooth, VascularPravastatinRecombinant ProteinsSerum Amyloid A ProteinT-LymphocytesTetrazoles
TNO Identifier
240502
ISSN
02636352
Source
Journal of Hypertension, 25(12), pp. 2454-2462.
Pages
2454-2462