Ezetimibe potently reduces vascular inflammation and arteriosclerosis in eNOS-deficient ApoE ko mice.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Hypercholesterolemia is associated with decreased vascular nitric oxide bioavailability and deletion of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) markedly accelerates atherosclerosis development in apolipoprotein E knockout (apoE ko) mice. The current study tests whether atheroprotection provided by a lipid lowering therapy with Ezetimibe depends on eNOS.

Methods/results

ApoE ko and apoE/eNOS double ko (dko) mice received a high fat diet with or without 0.05% Ezetimibe. Ezetimibe significantly reduced plasma cholesterol concentrations and atherogenic lipoproteins in both genotypes to a similar extent. Moreover, the drug reduced vascular inflammation, as it significantly reduced vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) expression and vascular CD14 expression, a mar

SUBMITTER: Kuhlencordt PJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3786446 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature