Prostaglandin E1 dose-dependently promotes stability of atherosclerotic plaque in a rabbit model

Abstract

This study evaluated the effect of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) on the stability of atherosclerotic plaque. A vulnerable plaque model was established in rabbits, using balloon injury combined with a high-cholesterol diet. The rabbits were distributed into a control group, a low-dose PGE1 treatment group, a moderate-dose PGE1 treatment group, a high-dose PGE1 treatment group, and a simvastatin treatment group, with treatments lasting for 4 weeks. At week 13 (at the end of the experiments), atherosclerotic plaque was triggered by injection of Russell’s viper venom (Chinese) and histamine. Serological, pathological, immunohistochemical, and gene-expression studies were subsequently performed. PGE1 treatment did not alter serum lipid levels; however, PGE1 dose-dependently increased the thickness of the fibrous caps, and decreased the plaque vulnerability index. The plaque contents of macrophage- and the mRNA levels of monocyte-chemotactic protein-1, matrix metalloproteinase-1, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 were markedly reduced in all of the PGE1 treatment groups, with the high-dose of PGE1 being more effective than the simvastatin treatment. These findings suggest that PGE1 dose-dependently enhances the stability of atherosclerotic plaque. The high-dose of PGE1 presented more protection in terms of inhibiting macrophage accumulation and inflammatory expression in plaque. Our findings suggest a novel drug for the treatment of atherosclerosis.