Atheroprotective and atheroregressive potential of azapeptide derivatives of GHRP-6 as selective CD36 ligands in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice.

Background And Aims: Scavenger receptor class B member 3, also known as cluster of differentiation-36 (CD36) receptor, is involved in the uptake and accumulation of modified lipoprotein in macrophages, driving atherosclerosis progression. Azapeptide analogs of growth hormone-releasing peptide-6 (GHRP-6) have been developed as selective CD36 ligands and evaluated for their anti-atherosclerotic properties in apoe mice.

Methods: From 4 to 19 weeks of age, male apoe mice were fed a high fat high cholesterol (HFHC) diet, then switched to normal chow and treated daily with 300 nmol/kg of MPE-001 ([aza-Tyr]-GHRP-6) or MPE-003 ([aza-(N,N-diallylaminobut-2-ynyl)Gly]-GHRP-6) for 9 weeks.