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Testin on Atherosclerosis in Rabbits
Yue Zhang, Meng Yuan, Hong-Min Li
1Department of Cardiology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ionic-Molecular Function of Cardiovascular Disease (Key Lab-TIC), Tianjin Institute of Cardiology, Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300211, China.
Background:
The expression of TES, a novel tumor suppressor gene, is found to be down-regulated in the left anterior descending aorta of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) compared with non-CAD subjects. This study aimed to investigate the expression of TES during the development of atherosclerosis in rabbits.
Methods:
Thirty-two New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into a normal diet (ND) and high-fat diet (HFD) groups. Body weight and serum lipid levels were measured at 0, 4, and 12 weeks after diet treatment. The degree of atherosclerosis in thoracic aortas was analyzed by histological examinations. The expression of Testin in the tissue samples was inspected via immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence confocal microscopy. Real time-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis were performed to evaluate the expression of TES/Testin at mRNA and protein levels in the aortic tissues.
Results:
After 12 weeks postenrollment, rabbits in HFD group had a higher level of serum lipids and atherosclerotic plaque compared to ND group (P < 0.05). Testin expression was detected at high levels in the endothelium and a weak expression on the subendothelium area. The expression of TES mRNA was markedly reduced by 10-fold in the aortic tissues in the HFD group compared with the ND group (P = 0.015), and the protein level was also significantly decreased in the HFD group (P < 0.05).
Conclusions:
Reduced TES/Testin expression is associated with the development of atherosclerosis, implicating a potentially important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.
Insights
Down-regulation of the TES (tumor suppressor gene) is linked to atherosclerosis development. Reduced TES expression in rabbits fed a high-fat diet indicates its potential role in this cardiovascular disease.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Molecular Biology
- Pathogenesis of Atherosclerosis
Background:
- TES, a novel tumor suppressor gene, shows reduced expression in coronary artery disease patients.
- This study investigates TES expression during atherosclerosis development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the role of TES/Testin expression in diet-induced atherosclerosis in a rabbit model.
- To correlate TES/Testin levels with atherosclerotic plaque formation and lipid profiles.
Main Methods:
- Rabbits were fed normal or high-fat diets for 12 weeks.
- Atherosclerosis was assessed via histology; TES/Testin expression was measured using immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, real-time PCR, and Western blot.
Main Results:
- High-fat diet induced higher serum lipids and atherosclerotic plaques.
- TES mRNA and protein levels were significantly reduced in rabbits on a high-fat diet.
- Testin expression was localized to the endothelium and subendothelium.
Conclusions:
- Reduced TES/Testin expression is associated with atherosclerosis development.
- TES/Testin may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.
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