Promoter DNA demethylation of Keap1 gene in diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Researches have shown that the onset of diabetes is closely associated with oxidative stress and the chronic exposure leads to the development of complications such as diabetic cardiomyopathy. One of the central adaptive responses against the oxidative stresses is the activation of the nuclear transcriptional factor, NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), which then activates more than 20 different antioxidative enzymes. Kelch-like ECH associated protein 1 (Keap1) targets and binds to Nrf2 for proteosomal degradation.

Ischemic postconditioning decreases matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression during ischemia-reperfusion of myocardium in a rabbit model: A preliminary report.

Objective: To investigate the effect of ischemic postconditioning on the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 during ischemia-reperfusion of myocardium in a rabbit model.

Methods: Thirty-six male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into sham, ischemia-reperfusion and ischemic postconditioning groups. Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion was created by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery for 30 min followed by 3 h of reperfusion.

Combination of fluvastatin and losartan relieves atherosclerosis and macrophage infiltration in atherosclerotic plaques in rabbits.

Aim: To investigate whether the combination of fluvastatin and losartan synergistically relieve atherosclerosis and plaque inflammation induced by a high-cholesterol diet in rabbits.

Methods: Atherosclerosis was induced with a high-cholesterol diet for 3 months in 36 New Zealand white rabbits. The animals were randomly divided into model group, fluvastatin (10 mg·kg(-1)·d(-1)) group, losartan (25 mg·kg(-1)·d(-1)) group, and fluvastatin plus losartan group.

[Early intervention on atherosclerosis by fluvastatin and lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 expression in atherosclerotic arteries in immature rabbits].

Objective: The present study was designed to investigate the preventive and therapeutic effect of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutanyl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor fluvastatin on the development of atherosclerosis (AS) in immature rabbits and its possible mechanism by detecting the expression level of lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) in the abdominal aorta.

Methods: A model of hypercholesterolemia (HC) was established by high-cholesterol diet and 24 immature rabbits were divided randomly and equally into control group, HC-diet group and fluvastatin group. At the beginning of the study and after 12 weeks, the body height (BH) and body weight (BW) of the rabbits were measured and their body mass index (BMI) was calculated.

Fluvastatin prevents renal injury and expression of lactin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 in rabbits with hypercholesterolemia.

Background: Lipid abnormalities are often complicated by renal dysfunction. 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) are the first-line choice for lowering cholesterol levels. The present study was designed to investigate whether statins could prevent and invert the development of renal injury in cholesterol-fed rabbits and to find the possible mechanism of their effects by detecting gene and protein expression of lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) in the renal artery.