Relationship between 3,4-Dihydroxyaceto-phenone Prevention of Atherosclerosis and Lipoxin in ApoE(-/-) mice

OBJECTIVE To observe the relationship between 3,4-Dihydroxyaceto-phenone(DHAP) prevention of atherosclerosis(AS) and lipoxins(LXs) in ApoE(-/-) mice. METHODS There were 8 eight-week-old C57BL/6 mice in the normal control group; 24 eight-week-old male ApoE (-/-) mice were randomly divided into three groups: AS group (n=8, ip. alcohol 20 mg·kg^-1·d^-1); DHAP treatment group (n=8, ip. DHAP 20 mg·kg^-1·d^-1); simvastatin treatment group (n=8, ip. simvastatin 20 mg·kg^-1·d^-1). All mice were fed with a Western diet (21% fat, 0.15% cholesterol) for 16 weeks. Their blood was collected for determination of blood lipids and lipoxin concentration. Sections of aortic root were stained by HE. The structures of cells were observed by electron microscope. Western-blotting was applied to detect 15-LO protein in serum. RESULTS The concentration of LXs increased in DHAP-treated group. The concentration of TG and TC decreased in DHAP-treated group; the formation of AS plaque was reduced; the injuries of cells decreased; 15-lipoxygenase also increased at atherosclerosis plaque in DHAP-treated group. CONCLUSION It is suggested that DHAP could be used effectively for the prevention and treatment of AS, possibly through promoting the 15-lipoxygenase product synthesis of anti-inflammatory lipoxin pathway.