Effect of Atorvastatin on Tumor Necrosis Factor α Serum Concentration and mRNA Expression of Adipose in Hypercholesterolemic Rabbits

Opium may affect coronary artery disease by inducing inflammation but not through the expression of CD9, CD36, and CD68

The molecular mechanisms of opium action with regard to coronary artery disease (CAD) have not yet been determined. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of opium on the expression of scavenger receptors including CD36, CD68, and CD9 tetraspanin in monocytes and the plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interferon gamma (IFN-γ), malondialdehyde (MDA), and nitric oxide metabolites (NO_x) in CAD patients with and without opium addiction. This case-control study was conducted on three groups: (1) opium-addicted CAD patients (CAD + OA, n = 30); (2) CAD patients with no opium addiction (CAD, n = 30); and (3) individuals without CAD and opium addiction as the control group (Ctrl, n = 17). The protein and mRNA levels of CD9, CD36, and CD68 were evaluated by the flow cytometry and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) methods, respectively. The consumption of atorvastatin, aspirin, and glyceryl trinitrate was found be higher in the CAD groups compared with the control group. The plasma level of TNF-α was significantly higher in the CAD + OA group than in the CAD and Ctrl groups (p = 0.001 and p = 0.005, respectively). MDA levels significantly increased in CAD and CAD + OA patients in comparison with the Ctrl group (p = 0.010 and p = 0.002, respectively). No significant differences were found in CD9, CD36, CD68, IFN-γ, and NO_x between the three groups. The findings demonstrated that opium did not have a significant effect on the expression of CD36, CD68, and CD9 at gene and protein levels, but it might be involved in the development of CAD by inducing inflammation through other mechanisms.

Opium may affect coronary artery disease by inducing inflammation but not through the expression of CD9, CD36, and CD68

The molecular mechanisms of opium with regard to coronary artery disease (CAD) have not yet been determined. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of opium on the expression of scavenger receptors including CD36, CD68, and CD9 tetraspanin in monocytes and the plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interferon gamma (IFN-γ), malondialdehyde (MDA), and nitric oxide metabolites (NO_x) in patients with CAD with and without opium addiction. This case-control study was conducted in three groups: (1) opium-addicted patients with CAD (CAD+OA, n=30); (2) patients with CAD with no opium addiction (CAD, n=30); and (3) individuals without CAD and opium addiction as the control group (Ctrl, n=17). Protein and messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of CD9, CD36, and CD68 were evaluated by flow cytometry and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR methods, respectively. Consumption of atorvastatin, aspirin, and glyceryl trinitrate was found to be higher in the CAD groups compared with the control group. The plasma level of TNF-α was significantly higher in the CAD+OA group than in the CAD and Ctrl groups (p=0.001 and p=0.005, respectively). MDA levels significantly increased in the CAD and CAD+OA groups in comparison with the Ctrl group (p=0.010 and p=0.002, respectively). No significant differences were found in CD9, CD36, CD68, IFN-γ, and NO_x between the three groups. The findings demonstrated that opium did not have a significant effect on the expression of CD36, CD68, and CD9 at the gene and protein levels, but it might be involved in the development of CAD by inducing inflammation through other mechanisms.

The effect of selected drugs on the mitigation of myocardial injury caused by gamma radiation

Radiation damage of healthy tissues represents one of the complications of radiotherapy effectiveness. This study is focused on the screening of potentially effective drugs routinely used in medical practice and involved in the mechanism of radiation injury, namely for radiation-induced production of free radicals in the body. Experiments in rats revealed significant reduction of oxidative stress (malondialdehyde) and inflammatory marker (tumor necrosis factor α) in 10 Gy irradiated groups after administration of atorvastatin and a slight decrease after tadalafil administration, which indicates that one of the possible mechanisms for mitigation of radiation-induced cardiac damage could be the modulation of nitric oxide (NO) in endothelium and phosphodiesterase 5. In addition, miRNAs were analyzed as potential markers and therapeutically effective molecules. Expression of miRNA-21 and miRNA-15b showed the most significant changes after irradiation. Atorvastatin and tadalafil normalized changes of miRNA (miRNA-1, miRNA-15b, miRNA-21) expression levels in irradiated hearts. This screening study concludes that administration of specific drugs could mitigate the negative impact of radiation on the heart, but more detailed experiments oriented to other aspects of drug effectiveness and their exact mechanisms are still needed.

Rosuvastatin protects against endothelial cell apoptosis in vitro and alleviates atherosclerosis in ApoE-/- mice by suppressing endoplasmic reticulum stress

The development of abnormal lipid-induced atherosclerosis is initiated with endothelial cell apoptosis. Vascular endothelial cells possess highly developed endoplasmic reticulum (ER), which is involved in lipid metabolism, indicating that ER stress may contribute chiefly to the induction of endothelial cell apoptosis. Based on its ability to reduce cholesterol levels, rosuvastatin may play an endothelial and vascular protective role by regulating ER stress. In the present study, the involvement of the inhibition of the ER stress-induced endothelial injury was investigated in combination with the lipid lowering effects of rosuvastatin. This compound can be used to inhibit cholesterol synthesis in atherosclerosis. Rosuvastatin decreased the apoptotic rates of human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) that had been stimulated with ox-low density lipoprotein (LDL) in vitro and repressed the mRNA levels of CHOP, sXBP1 and caspase-12, and decreased caspase-12 activity, as well as the content of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), phosphorylated (p)-protein kinase RNA-like ER kinase (PERK), p-inositol-requiring protein 1α (IRE1α) and p-eIF2α proteins. In addition, ApoE^-/- mice were fed with atherogenic chow for 8 weeks for atherosclerosis induction and rosuvastatin was provided by intragastric administration for an additional 4 weeks. Subsequently, the atherosclerotic plaque formation in the aorta was evaluated by Oil Red O and hematoxylin and eosin staining, and the serum LDL, high-density lipoprotein, total cholesterol (TC) and triacylglycerol (TG) levels were measured. In addition, the induction of apoptosis of endothelial cells and the expression levels of GRP78, p-PERK, p-IRE1α and p-eIF2α were assessed in the aorta. Rosuvastatin repressed atherosclerotic plaque formation and endothelial apoptosis in the aorta and decreased LDL and TG levels in the serum, as determined by in vivo results. Furthermore, it downregulated the expression levels of protein chaperone GRP78, p-PERK, p-IRE1α and p-eIF2α in the aortic intima. The data indicated that rosuvastatin could protect HUVECs from ER stress-induced apoptosis triggered by oxidized LDL. It could also inhibit atherosclerosis formation in ApoE^-/- mice aorta by regulating the PERK/eIF2α/C/EBPα-homologous protein and IRE1α/sXBP1 signaling pathways. Taken collectively, the present study demonstrated the preventive and therapeutic effects of rosuvastatin in protecting from the development of endothelial cell dysfunction diseases.

The effect of statin therapy on endoplasmic reticulum stress

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is critical in protein processing and particularly in ensuring that proteins undergo their correct folding to exert their functionality. What is becoming increasingly clear is that the ER may undergo increasing stress brought about by nutrient deprivation, hypoxia, oxidized lipids, point mutations in secreted proteins, cellular differentiation or significant deviation from metabolic set points, and loss of Ca²⁺ homeostasis, with detrimental effects on ER-resident calcium-dependent chaperones, alone or in combination. This results in the unfolded protein response (UPR) that is a repair mechanism to limit the formation of newly damaged proteins until ER homeostasis is restored, though may result in increased cell death. ER stress has been shown to be implicated in a variety of diseases. Statins are well-known cholesterol-lowering drugs and have been extensively reported to possess beneficial cholesterol-independent effects in a variety of human diseases. This review focuses on the concept of ER stress, the underlying molecular mechanisms and their relationship to the pathophysiology and, finally, the role of statins in moderating ER stress and UPR.

Changes of MicroRNA-1, -15b and -21 Levels in Irradiated Rat Hearts After Treatment With Potentially Radioprotective Drugs

The aim of this study was to measure expression levels of microRNAs (miRNAs) (miRNA-1, -15b and -21) in the rat myocardium after a single dose of ionizing radiation (6-7 Gy/min, total 25 Gy). The rats were treated with selected drugs (Atorvastatin, acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), Tadalafil, Enbrel) for six weeks after irradiation. MiRNAs levels were measured by RT-qPCR. Irradiation down-regulated miRNA-1 in irradiated hearts. In Tadalafil- and Atorvastatin-treated groups, miRNA-1 expression levels were further decreased compared with irradiated controls. However, Enbrel increased miRNA-1 level in irradiated hearts similarly to that in non-irradiated untreated group. Increase of miRNA-15b is pro-apoptotic in relationship with ischemia. Irradiation caused down-regulation of miRNA-15b. Administration of ASA in the irradiated group resulted in the increase of miRNA-15b expression compared to non-treated controls without irradiation. After Enbrel administration, miRNA-15b levels were overexpressed compared to non-treated normal group. MiRNA-21 belongs to the most markedly up-regulated miRNAs in response to cardiogenic stress. MiRNA-21 was increased nearly 2-fold compared to non-treated hearts whereas Tadalafil reduced miRNA-21 levels (about 40 %). Our study suggests that Enbrel and Tadalafil changed miRNAs expression values of the irradiated rats to the values of non-irradiated controls, thus they might be helpful in mitigation of radiation-induced toxicity.

Oligofructose supplementation (10%) during pregnancy and lactation does not change the inflammatory effect of concurrent trans fatty acid ingestion on 21-day-old offspring

Background

Previously, we demonstrated that trans fatty acid ingestion during pregnancy and lactation caused a pro-inflammatory effect on the newborn. The opposite effect was described for gestational prebiotic intake. In the present study, we examined whether supplementation of the diet of the dams with 10% of oligofructose with or without hydrogenated vegetable fat during pregnancy and lactation affected the pro-inflammatory status on the pups at age 21 days.

Methods

On the first day of pregnancy, rats were divided into four groups, each of which received one of four diets: a control diet (C group), a control diet supplemented with 10% oligofructose (CF group), a diet enriched with hydrogenated vegetable fat containing trans fatty acids (T group) or a diet enriched with hydrogenated vegetable fat containing trans fatty acids supplemented with 10% oligofructose (TF group). The pups were weighed at birth and at 7, 14 and 21 days of life and were euthanized on post-natal day 21. The serum glucose, insulin and adiponectin concentrations were analyzed. The IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-α contents of the retroperitoneal white adipose tissue, liver, soleus and extensor digital longus muscles were analyzed by ELISA. The results are presented as the means ± standard error of the mean. Statistical significance was assessed using two-way ANOVA, followed by Tukey's test and considered significant at p < 0.05

Results

The body weights of the 21-day old pups in the CF and TF groups were significant lower than those of the C (27% and 21%) and T (25% and 19%, respectively) groups. The serum levels of adiponectin in the CF, T and TF groups were lower than in the C group (41%; 34% and 31%, respectively). In the retroperitoneal adipose tissue, the IL-6 content was increased in TF group relative to the C and CF groups (74% for both), and the TNF-α content was higher in the T and TF groups than in the C group (62% and 98%, respectively). In the liver, the TNF-α (56% and 104%) and IL-10 (52% and 73%) contents were increased in the CF group relative to the C and TF groups.

Conclusions

Supplementation of the diet of the dams with 10% of oligofructose during pregnancy and lactation, independent of supplementation with hydrogenated vegetable fat, adversely affected the development of the offspring and contributed to development of a pro-inflammatory status in the pups on postnatal day 21.

Simvastatin inhibits ox-LDL-induced inflammatory adipokines secretion via amelioration of ER stress in 3T3-L1 adipocyte

Adipocytes behave as a rich source of pro-inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1). Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in adipocytes can alter adipokines secretion and induce inflammation. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of simvastatin on the ox-LDL-induced ER stress and expression and secretion of TNF-α and MCP-1 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Differentiated adipocytes were treated with various concentrations of ox-LDL (0-100 μg/ml) for 24h with or without simvastatin pre-treatment. The protein expressions of ER stress markers, glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) and C/EBP homology protein (CHOP), were determined by Western blot analysis. The mRNA expressions of TNF-α and MCP-1 were measured by real-time PCR. The protein release of TNF-α and MCP-1 in culture medium were evaluated by ELISA. Ox-LDL treatment led to significant up-regulation of GRP78 and CHOP in dose-dependent manner. The expressions of TNF-α and MCP-1 were dose-dependently increased at mRNA and protein levels after ox-LDL intervention. The effects of ox-LDL on adipocytes were abolished by pre-treatment with 4-phenylbutyrate (4-PBA), a chemical chaperone known to ameliorate ER stress. Simvastatin could inhibit ox-LDL-induced ER stress and reduce the expression of TNF-α and MCP-1 at mRNA and protien level in dose dependent manner. In conclusion, ox-LDL can stimulate the expression and secretion of TNF-α and MCP-1 through its activation of ER stress in adipocytes. Simvastatin might exert direct anti-inflammatory effects in adipocytes through amelioration of ER stress.

Hydrogenated fat intake during pregnancy and lactation caused increase in TRAF-6 and reduced AdipoR1 in white adipose tissue, but not in muscle of 21 days old offspring rats

Background

Although lipids transfer through placenta is very limited, modification in dietary fatty acids can lead to implications in fetal and postnatal development. Trans fatty acid (TFA) intake during gestation and lactation have been reported to promote dyslipidemia and increase in pro- inflammatory adipokines in offspring. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the alterations on pro-inflammatory cytokines and dyslipidemia observed previously in 21-d-old offspring of rats fed a diet containing hydrogenated vegetable fat during gestation and lactation were related to alterations in TLR-4, TRAF-6 and adipo-R1 receptor in white adipose tissue and muscle. On the first day of gestation, rats were randomly divided into two groups: (C) received a control diet, and (T) received a diet enriched with hydrogenated vegetable fat, rich in trans fatty acids. The diets were maintained throughout gestation and lactation. Each mother was given eight male pups. On the 21st day of life the offspring were killed. Blood, soleus and extensor digital longus (EDL) muscles, and retroperitoneal (RET) white adipose tissue were collected.

Results

21-d-old of T rats had higher serum triacylglycerols, cholesterol, and insulin. The Adipo R1 protein expression was lower in RET and higher in EDL of T group than C. TLR-4 protein content in all studied tissues were similar between groups, the same was verified in TRAF-6 protein expression in soleus and EDL. However, TRAF-6 protein expression in RET was higher in T than C.

Conclusion

These results demonstrated that maternal ingestion of hydrogenated vegetable fat rich in TFAs during gestation and lactation decrease in Adipo R1 protein expression and increase in TRAF-6 protein expression in retroperitoneal adipose tissue, but not in skeletal muscle, which could contributed for hyperinsulinemia and dyslipidemia observed in their 21-d-old offspring.

Influence of Vascular Oxidative Stress and Inflammation on the Development and Progression of Atherosclerosis

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, smoking, physical inactivity, and obesity increase production of vascular reactive oxygen species (ROS), which results in a reduction of bioavailable nitric oxide and ultimately endothelial dysfunction and endothelial cell activation. ROS appears to mediate the inflammatory pathways that participate in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. There are numerous markers of oxidative stress and inflammation available for assessing the therapeutic response to interventions, but few are currently recommended for clinical use. Exercise training improves endothelial function via several mechanisms, including increased endothelial nitric oxide synthase—nitric oxide (eNOS-NO)— mediated production, increased activity and amount of antioxidants, attenuated ROS production, and an apparent reduction in systemic inflammation, possibly related to an increase in myokines resulting from skeletal muscle activation. Dietary antioxidant supplementation may improve endothelial function, oxidative stress, and inflammation, but much controversy exists regarding the use of antioxidant supplementation in primary and secondary CVD prevention. The purpose of this article is to review the contribution of vascular oxidative stress and activation of the inflammatory pathways in the pathogenesis of CVD and to review common methods used in clinical research to assess vascular oxidative stress and inflammation in response to therapeutic lifestyle interventions.

TNF-alpha, a potent lipid metabolism regulator

As a multifunctional cytokine, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) exerts a series of biological actions in different cells, tissues, organs, and species and has been demonstrated to regulate and interfere with energy metabolism, especially lipid homeostasis. A large body of researches suggested that the effects of TNF-alpha on lipid metabolism mainly include five aspects: (1) suppresses free fatty acid (FFA) uptake and promotes lipogenesis; (2) induces lipolysis; (3) inhibits lipid-metabolism-related enzymes activity; (4) regulates cholesterol metabolism; (5) regulates other adipocyte-derived adipokines. The molecular mechanisms underlying these actions are complex and several signal transduction pathways might be involved. Regulation of metabolism-related gene expression at transcriptional and protein levels and impact on enzymes activity might be of importance. Identification and verification of these pathways might provide novel potential strategies and drug targets for dyslipidemia therapy. However, the inconsistent and even conflict conclusions on lipid profile drawn from human subjects after infliximab therapy poses the possibility that the effect of TNF-alpha on lipid metabolism might be more complicated than it appeared to be.

Role of TNF-alpha in vascular dysfunction

Healthy vascular function is primarily regulated by several factors including EDRF (endothelium-dependent relaxing factor), EDCF (endothelium-dependent contracting factor) and EDHF (endothelium-dependent hyperpolarizing factor). Vascular dysfunction or injury induced by aging, smoking, inflammation, trauma, hyperlipidaemia and hyperglycaemia are among a myriad of risk factors that may contribute to the pathogenesis of many cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes and atherosclerosis. However, the exact mechanisms underlying the impaired vascular activity remain unresolved and there is no current scientific consensus. Accumulating evidence suggests that the inflammatory cytokine TNF (tumour necrosis factor)-α plays a pivotal role in the disruption of macrovascular and microvascular circulation both in vivo and in vitro. AGEs (advanced glycation end-products)/RAGE (receptor for AGEs), LOX-1 [lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1) and NF-κB (nuclear factor κB) signalling play key roles in TNF-α expression through an increase in circulating and/or local vascular TNF-α production. The increase in TNF-α expression induces the production of ROS (reactive oxygen species), resulting in endothelial dysfunction in many pathophysiological conditions. Lipid metabolism, dietary supplements and physical activity affect TNF-α expression. The interaction between TNF-α and stem cells is also important in terms of vascular repair or regeneration. Careful scrutiny of these factors may help elucidate the mechanisms that induce vascular dysfunction. The focus of the present review is to summarize recent evidence showing the role of TNF-α in vascular dysfunction in cardiovascular disease. We believe these findings may prompt new directions for targeting inflammation in future therapies.

Atorvastatin has hypolipidemic and anti-inflammatory effects in apoE/LDL receptor-double-knockout mice

Statins are first-line pharmacotherapeutic agents for hypercholesterolemia treatment in humans. However the effects of statins in animal models of atherosclerosis are not very consistent. Thus we wanted to evaluate whether atorvastatin possesses hypolipidemic and anti-inflammatory effects in mice lacking apolipoprotein E/low-density lipoprotein receptor (apoE/LDLR-deficient mice). Two-month-old female apoE/LDLR-deficient mice (n=24) were randomly subdivided into 3 groups. The control group of animals (n=8) was fed with the western type diet (atherogenic diet) and in other two groups atorvastatin was added to the atherogenic diet at the dosage of either 10 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg per day for a period of 2 months. Biochemical analysis of lipids, ELISA analysis of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) in blood, quantification of lesion size and expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in the atherosclerotic lesion by means of immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis were performed. The biochemical analysis showed that administration of atorvastatin (100 mg/kg/day) significantly decreased level of total cholesterol, lipoproteins (VLDL and LDL), triacylglycerol, and moreover significantly increased level of HDL. ELISA analysis showed that atorvastatin significantly decreased levels of MCP-1 in blood and immunohistochemical and Western blot analysis showed significant reduction of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 expression in the vessel wall after atorvastatin treatment (100 mg/kg/day). In conclusion, we demonstrated here for the first time strong hypolipidemic and anti-inflammatory effects of atorvastatin in apoE/LDLR-deficient mice. Thus, we propose that apoE/LDLR-deficient mice might be a good animal model for the study of statin effects on potential novel markers involved in atherogenesis and for the testing of potential combination treatment of new hypolipidemic substances with statins.

Hydrogenated fat intake during pregnancy and lactation modifies serum lipid profile and adipokine mRNA in 21-day-old rats

OBJECTIVE

We examined whether feeding pregnant and lactating rats hydrogenated fats rich in trans-fatty acids modifies the plasma lipid profiles and the expression of adipokines involved with insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease in their 21-d-old offspring.

METHODS

Pregnant and lactating Wistar rats were fed with a control diet (C group) or one enriched with hydrogenated vegetable fat (T group). After delivery, male offspring were weighed weekly and killed at day 21 of life by decapitation. Blood and retroperitoneal, epididymal, and subcutaneous white adipose tissues were collected.

RESULTS

Offspring of T-group rats had increased serum triacylglycerols and cholesterol, white adipose tissue plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene expression, and carcass lipid content and decreased blood leptin and adiponectin and adiponectin gene expression.

CONCLUSION

Ingestion of hydrogenated vegetable fat by the mother during gestation and lactation alters the blood lipid profiles and the expression of proinflammatory adipokynes by the adipose tissue of offspring aged 21 d.

Direct adipotropic actions of atorvastatin: differentiation state-dependent induction of apoptosis, modulation of endocrine function, and inhibition of glucose uptake

Statins exert anti-inflammatory, anti-atherogenic actions. The mechanisms responsible for these effects remain only partially elucidated. Diabetes and obesity are characterized by low-grade inflammation. Metabolic and endocrine adipocyte dysfunction is known to play a crucial role in the development of these disorders and the related cardiovascular complications. Thus, direct modulation of adipocyte function may represent a mechanism of pleiotropic statin actions. We investigated effects of atorvastatin on apoptosis, differentiation, endocrine, and metabolic functions in murine white and brown adipocyte lines. Direct exposure of differentiating preadipocytes to atorvastatin strongly reduced lipid accumulation and diminished protein expression of the differentiation marker CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-beta (CEBP-beta). In fully differentiated adipocytes, however, lipid accumulation remained unchanged after chronic atorvastatin treatment. Furthermore, cell viability was reduced in response to atorvastatin treatment in proliferating and differentiating preadipocytes, but not in differentiated cells. Moreover, atorvastatin induced apoptosis and inhibited protein kinase B (AKT) phosphorylation in proliferating and differentiating preadipocytes, but not in differentiated adipocytes. On the endocrine level, direct atorvastatin treatment of differentiated white adipocytes enhanced expression of the pro-inflammatory adipokine interleukin-6 (IL-6), and downregulated expression of the insulin-mimetic and anti-inflammatory adipokines visfatin and adiponectin. Finally, these direct adipotropic endocrine effects of atorvastatin were paralleled by the acute inhibition of insulin-induced glucose uptake in differentiated white adipocytes, while protein expression of the thermogenic uncoupling protein-1 (UCP-1) in brown adipocytes remained unchanged. Taken together, our data for the first time demonstrate direct differentiation state-dependent effects of atorvastatin including apoptosis, modulation of pro-inflammatory and glucostatic adipokine expression, and insulin resistance in adipose cells. These differential interactions may explain variable clinical observations.

Adipocyte: a potential target for the treatment of atherosclerosis

Obesity is an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease, whereas the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. Adipocytes may produce various adipokines with favorable and unfavorable cardiovascular effects. The dysregulated secretion of adipokines by adipocytes may contribute to obese associated atherosclerosis. Adipocytes can also function as phagocytes to uptake and degrade oxidized low-density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL), suggesting that adipocytes possibly involve in clearance of Ox-LDL in blood. The dysfunctional adipocytes might be implicated in the atherogenesis. Some cardioprotective drugs mediate their cardiovascular benefits partly through their direct beneficial effects on adipocytes. Therefore, we hypothesized that adipocytes might be potential target for the treatment of atherosclerosis.