Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Knockdown of VAMP8 attenuates atherosclerosis and enhances the effect of simvastatin in APOE-deficient mice

Lei Zhan, Hua Zhao

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, Guizhou 550000, China;

For correspondence:- Hua Zhao Email: zh_zhaohua777@163.com Tel:+8685185258768

Accepted: 3 May 2023 Published: 30 May 2023

Citation: Zhan L, Zhao H. Knockdown of VAMP8 attenuates atherosclerosis and enhances the effect of simvastatin in APOE-deficient mice. Trop J Pharm Res 2023; 22(5):993-999 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v22i5.9

© 2023 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the regulatory effects of vesicle-associated membrane protein 8 (VAMP8) in atherosclerosis (AS).

Methods: VAMP8 expression was assessed using quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot, while H&E staining was used to examine the morphology of arterial glandular tissues in AS mice. Lipid accumulation in mice was determined with the aid of Oil Red O staining, whereas the apoptosis of aortic cells was evaluated by TUNEL assay.

Results: VAMP8 was highly expressed in the advanced-stage AS samples, and was also elevated in AS mice (p < 0.01). VAMP8 protein level rose in AS mice (p < 0.01). Moreover, the aorta showed atherosclerotic lesions with intima thickening and atherosclerotic plaques in AS group (p < 0.01). However, these changes were alleviated in VAMP8-silenced group (p < 0.01). VAMP8 silencing decreased lipid accumulation and alleviated inflammation and oxidative stress in AS mice (p < 0.01). It was observed that depletion of VAMP8 reduced aortic cell apoptosis in AS mice (p < 0.05). Furthermore, VAMP8 knockdown enhanced the effect of simvastatin on atherosclerosis (p < 0.01).

Conclusion: Knockdown of VAMP8 alleviates AS in ApoE-deficient mice. This finding suggests that this might be a potential strategy for the prevention and treatment of AS

Keywords: VAMP8, Atherosclerosis, ApoE-deficient mice, Lipid accumulation