Abstract:

ＯｂｊｅｃｔｉｖｅTo observe the effects of simvastatin on the protein and gene expression of HMGB1 and morphology of the atherosclerotic plaques in atherosclerotic rats, and to discover the protective mechanism of simvastatin for atherosclerosis.ＭｅｔｈｏｄｓThirty rats were randomly divided into 3 groups:control group, atherosclerosis group and simvastatin group.The atherosclerotic rats in simvastatin group were treated with simvastatin for 4 weeks. The histopathology change and the protein and gene expression of HMGB1 in the atherosclerotic plaques of aorta were observed, and compared in three groups.Ｒｅｓｕｌｔｓ(1) Simvastatin could inhibit the formation of the atherosclerotic plaques obviously, and the area of plaques decreased evidently. The expression of HMGB1 was enhanced in the area infiltrated with inflammatory cells and in the matrix around the necrotic cells.(2)The HMGB1 mRNA expression in all atherosclerotic rats was significantly increased(P＜001 ); In the simvastatin group, the gene expression of HMGB1 was lower than that in atherosclerosis group, while higher than that in the control group.(3)The plasma level of HMGB1 was significantly higher in the atherosclerotic group than that in the simvastatin group and the control group(P＜005 or P＜001) .Ｃｏｎｃｌｕｓｉｏｎｓ(1) The HMGB1 expression is increased in the atherosclerosis group.(2)Simvastatin could alleviate the formation of the plaques in the atherosclerotic rats, decreasing the protein and gene expression of HMGB1, then protecting the vessels by alleviating the inflammation.

Key words: high mobility group box1 protein, atherosclerosis, simvastatin, Vitamin D3