Taurine suppresses oxidative stress-potentiated expression of lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor and restenosis in balloon-injured rabbit iliac artery

摘要

1. In endothelial cells, the major receptor for the binding and internalization of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is the lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor (LOX-1). The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of taurine on intimal thickening and LOX-1 expression under normal and oxidative conditions. 2. The iliac artery of rabbits were subjected to balloon injury and oxidative stress was induced by 14days treatment of rabbits with 75mg/kg, s.c., buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), a specific inhibitor of glutathione synthesis. Taurine was administered in drinking water (1%, w/v) for 14days in the presence (BSO+Taurine group) and in the absence of BSO treatment (Taurine group). In taurine and placebo groups, rabbits were injected with 4mL, s.c., 0.9% NaCl (vehicle for BSO) for 14days. 3. Taurine (1% in drinking water, w/v) preserved plasma levels of anti-oxidants and lowered the increased blood pressure induced by BSO. The stenosis rate of 29.92% in the placebo group increased to 72.20% in the BSO group, which was significantly reduced to 42.21% by taurine (P<0.001; n=5). Localization of LOX-1 to the intima and media of the iliac artery was demonstrated in the present study. Taurine treatment reduced the BSO-induced increase in LOX-1 expression at both the protein and mRNA levels (P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively). 4. The results demonstrate that the stenosis rate and LOX-1 expression correlate well with oxidative status. Manipulation of LOX-1 expression by taurine may have therapeutic benefits in preventing restenosis.