Effects of rosuvastatin on Bcl-2 and Bax expressions in aorta of rats with hyperhomocysteinemia

Abstract:

Objective：To investigate the effects of rosuvastatin on expressions of B cell leukemia/lymphoma-2（Bcl-2） and Bcl-2-as－sociated X protein（Bax） in aortas of Wistar rats with hyperhomocysteinemia（Hhcy）. Methods：Serum triglyceride，total cholesterol，low density lipoprotein-cholesterol and plasma homocysteine（Hcy） concentrations were detected by ADVIA2400 automatic biochemi－cal analyzer，pathological changes of aorta were observed by HE staining and Bcl-2 and Bax expressions of aortic tissues were detect－ed by immunohistochemistry and RT-qPCR detection. Results：Plasma Hcy concentration was lower in rosuvastatin group than in Hh－cy group，（10.47±0.07） μmol/L vs. （85.38±0.2） μmol/L，with statistically significant differences（P<0.05）. Aortic injury was less se－vere in rosuvastatin group than in Hhcy group. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that Bcl-2 protein expressions were lower in ro－suvastatin group than in Hhcy group and Bax protein expressions were higher in rosuvastatin group than in Hhcy group，with statisti－cally significant differences（P<0.05）. RT-qPCR assay showed Bcl-2 mRNA was decreased in rosuvastatin group than in Hhcy group and Bax mRNA was increased in rosuvastatin group than in Hhcy group（P<0.05）. Conclusions：Rosuvastatin can delay Hhcy rat aortic atherosclerosis hardening process through decreasing plasma Hcy concentration and influencing aortic tissue Bcl-2 and Bax gene ex－pressions.