Effect of colchicine on atherosclerosis induced by high-fat diet in apolipoprotein E gene knockout mice
Duan Xiaochun
Yan Yan
Zu Xiaotian
Li Yamin
Yang Bo
Li Nan
Abstract：Objective To investigate the effect of colchicine on atherosclerosis induced by high-fat diet in apolipoprotein E gene knockout(ApoE-/-)mice.Methods Twelve C57BL/6J wild-type mice were selected as the control group,24 ApoE-/-mice were completely randomized into model group and colchicine group,with 12 mice in each group.The control group was fed with regular feed;the model group and colchicine group were fed with high-fat diet to establish atherosclerosis model,at the same time colchicine group was also given colchicine 2 mg/(kg·d)by gavage for 8 weeks.The blood and aortic tissue samples were collected to detect the levels of blood lipids and C-reactive protein in each group.The pathological changes of aorta were observed by staining.The nuclear/cap ratio and vulnerability index of atherosclerotic plaques were compared among the groups.Results After intervention,the total cholesterol,triglycerides,low-density lipoprotein cholesterol,and C-reactive protein in the model group and colchicine group were higher than those in the control group,but those in the colchicine group were lower than those in the model group,and the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was lower than that in the control group,but those in the colchicine group were higher than those in the model group(all P＜0.05).The number of apoptotic endothelial cells,collagen fiber content,and CD68,α-smooth muscle actin positive expression in the aortic tissue of mice in the colchicine group were significantly lower than those in the model group(all P＜0.05).The ratio of nucleus to cap and vulnerability index of atherosclerotic plaque in colchicine group were signif-icantly lower than those in model group[(3.24±0.49)vs(9.54±1.49),(2.84±0.39)vs(8.64±1.29)](both P＜0.05).Conclusion Colchicine can significantly reduce aortic atherosclerotic in ApoE-/-mice induced by high-fat diet.
Keywords：AtherosclerosisColchicineHigh-fat dietApoptosis
Publication Date：2024-06-08
Online Publishing Date：2026-09-14(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：4( 811-814 )