Influences Of Atorvastatin On Expression Of Adipocyte Fatty Acid-binding Protein In Rabbits Model Of Atherosclerosis

Objective To explore the influence and potential mechanism of atorvastatin on expression of adipocyte fatty acid- binding protein (A-FABP)in rabbits model of atherosclerosis.Methods Fifteen male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups, control group, high cholesterol group and atorvastatin-treated group.After 12 weeks, aorta of all the animals were collected. The atherosclerotic lesions of aorta were observed and ox-LDL concentrations in serum were measured by ELISA. Expression of CD68, A-FABP and TNF-αin aorta was detected by immunochemistry and A-FABPmRNA expression by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Results The levels of serum ox-LDL, expression of CD68, A-FABP and TNF-αin high cholesterol group and atorvastatin-treated group significantly was increased compared with control group (P<0.01). There was a significant decrease in the levels of serum ox-LDL and expression of CD68, TNF-α, A-FABP in atorvastatin-treated group compared with high cholesterol group(P<0.01). The expression of A-FABP was related to atherosclerotic lesions area (r=0.989, P<0.001), serum ox-LDL level(r=0.916, P<0.001) and expression of CD68, TNF-α(r=0.962, P<0.001; r=0.958, P<0.001).Conclusions Atorvastatin inhibits expression of A-FABP, CD68, TNF-α, which may play an important role in prevention of atherosclerosis.