OBJECTIVE:To explore the effects and related mechanisms of exogenous fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 21 on atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E deficient (apoE-/-) mice. METHODS:Male 17-week-old C57BL/6J mice and apoE-/- mice were randomly divided into three groups (n = 12 each): blank control group (C vehicle), atherosclerosis group without FGF21 (apoE-/- vehicle) and apoE-/- plus FGF21 (100 µg × kg⁻¹ × d⁻¹ subcutaneously treatment) . All mice were fed with high-fat diet for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks treatments, atherosclerotic lesions in aortic arch and inner diameter of abdominal aorta were measured by ultrasonography. Plasma lipid profiles, CRP and TNFα were measured. The whole aorta and aortic root were prepared for HE and oil red O staining to analyze lesion areas. RESULTS:There was no evident plaque in C vehicle group. TC/HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C, non-HDL-C, expression of CRP and TNFα were significantly higher in apoE-/- vehicle group than in C vehicle group (all P < 0.05). IMT of aorta [(156.4 ± 17.6)µm vs. (57.8 ± 7.4)µm] were significantly higher in apoE-/- vehicle group than in C vehicle group (all P < 0.05). While FGF21 significantly reduced the lesion area in aorta arch [(1.42 ± 0.16) mm² vs. (2.30 ± 0.10) mm², P < 0.05] and the inner diameter of abdominal aorta [(0.97 ± 0.03) mm vs. (0.75 ± 0.18) mm, P < 0.05] compared to apoE-/- vehicle group. Similarly, TC/HDL-C(5.11 ± 0.70), LDL-C/HDL-C(3.90 ± 0.76), non-HDL-C[(6.33 ± 1.22)mmol/L], plasma CRP[(4.20 ± 1.03)mmol/L] and plasma TNFα[(1.29 ± 0.47)mmol/L] were also reduced by FGF21( all P < 0.05 vs. apoE-/- vehicle). Moreover, FGF21 decreased the IMT[(107.2 ± 33.5)µm vs. (156.4 ± 17.6)µm], lesion area of aorta [(14.26 ± 3.5)%] vs. [(23.06 ± 4.16)%] and plaque size of aorta root [(21.75 ± 7.14)% vs. (38.03 ± 5.76)%] (all P < 0.05 vs. apoE-/- vehicle). CONCLUSIONS:FGF21 can protect apoE-/- mice from atherosclerosis by modifying lipid profiles and downregulating CRP and TNFα expressions.

Objective To observe the effects of different doses of human recombinant tissue factor pathway inhibitor-1 (TFPI-1) on no-reflow (NR) phenomenon in rabbit.Methods Fifty-two New Zealand white rabbits were subjected to coronary artery occlusion for 120 min and followed by reperfusion for 60 min,and then were randomly (random number) assigned into four groups:control group,large,moderate and low doses TFPI-1 groups ( 1000 ng/kg,100 ng/kg,10 ng/kg bolus and thenl0 ng/kg,1 ng/kg and 0.1 ng/kg per minute infusion for maintenance,each group n =13).The no-reflow area (NA) and ischemic area (IA) was measured by thioflavin S and Evan's blue.The NR severity was expressed by NA/IA.The difference in NR severity was compared between groups.The thrombi and myocardial injury were observed under light microscope.The infarction and NR severity in different groups were compared by using one-way ANOVA followed by LSD procedure.Results There were no significant differences in IA and body weight among four groups (P＞0.05).NR severity in the large,moderate,low doses TFPI-1 groups and control group were (0.210 ±0.061 ),(0.389 +0.110),(0.478 ±0.077) and (0.536 ±0.061 ),respectively.NR severity in the large dose TFPI-1 group was slightest among the four groups (P ＜0.01 ).NR severity in the moderate dose TFPI-1 group was significantly decreased than that in control group ( P ＜ 0.01 ) and in low dose TFPI-1 group (P ＜0.05 ).There was no significant difference in NR severity between the low dose TFPI-1 group and control group ( P ＞ 0.05 ).There was less thrombus formation and lower grade myocardial injury found in the large dose TFPI-1 group. Conclusion Human rTFPI-1 might lessen NR severity in rabbit in dose-dependent,suggesting the option on human rTFPI-1 for treatment of NR phenomenon.

Objective To observe the function of recombinant human tissue factor pathway inhibitor1(rTFPI-1)in acute myocardial infarction in rabbit. Method Forty New Zealand White rabbits were subjected to coronary artery occlusion for 120 min and followed by reperfusion for 60 min,then they were ranlow dose rTFPI-1 group(n=10/group).The extent of ischemic area and the extent of myocardial infarction area were measured by Evan's blue stain and TTC stain,respectively.The degrees of infarction severity and ischemic severity were expressed as the ratios of the total left ventrieular wall area.The degrees of infarction severity and ischemic severity in different groups were compared by using one-way ANOVA and then followed by LSD procedure.Results The degree of infarction severity in the larger dose rTFPI-1 group was significantly lessened than that in low dose RTFPI-1 group and control group(P<0.001),and than that in modcrate dose rTFPI-1 group as well(P<0.05).The degree of infarction severity in the moderate dose rTFPI1 group was significantly lessened than that in low dose rTFPI-1 group and control group(P<0.001).There was no significant difference in degree of infarction severity between low dose rTFPI-1 group and control group(P>0.05).Conclusions Human rTFPI-1 might decrease myocardial infarction severity and save the survival myocardial tissue.

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the role of plasma tissue factor (TF) and tissue factor pathway inhibitor-1 (TFPI-1) level and to observe the effect of extrinsic TFPI-1 on no-reflow (NR) in a rabbit model of ischemia/reperfusion. METHODS:Rabbits were randomized into four groups (n = 10 each): ischemic- reperfusion group (IR, subjected to 120 minutes of coronary artery occlusion and followed by 60 minutes of reperfusion); ischemic- reperfusion TFPI-1 group (100 ng/kg bolus and 1 ng x kg(-1) x min(-1) infusion during reperfusion); ischemic group (subjected to 180 minutes of coronary artery occlusion) and sham group. The NR area and ischemic area were determined by thioflavin S and Evan's blue staining in vivo. Plasma TF and TFPI-1 levels were measured before operation, before and at 120 minutes post coronary artery ligation, 10 and 60 minutes after reperfusion by ELISA. RESULTS:Plasma TF and TFPI-1 levels before and at 120 minutes post coronary artery ligation were similar among the four groups (all P > 0.05). At 10 and 60 minutes after reperfusion, the plasma TF levels in the IR group was significantly higher than those in ischemic group and sham group [10 minutes: (20.7 + or - 4.1) pg/ml vs. (13.9 + or - 2.2) pg/ml (P < 0.001), (20.7 + or - 4.1) pg/ml vs. (13.2 + or - 2.6) pg/ml (P < 0.001); 60 minutes: (15.8 + or - 2.6) pg/ml vs. (13.5 + or - 1.6) pg/ml (P < 0.05), (15.8 + or - 2.6) pg/ml vs. (12.1 + or - 0.7) pg/ml (P < 0.001)] while the plasma TFPI-1 levels were similar among IR, ischemic and sham groups at 10 minutes after reperfusion and at 60 minutes after reperfusion (all P > 0.05). TFPI-1 level [(9.7 + or - 1.6) ng/ml] was significantly lower in the IR group than in the ischemic group [(11.6 + or - 1.6) ng/ml, P < 0.05] and sham group [(10.1 + or - 1.3) ng/ml, P < 0.01]. TF mRNA expression in the NR area in IR group was significantly up-regulated compared to the ischemic group (P < 0.05) and sham group (P < 0.001) while TFPI-1 mRNA expression was similar between IR group and ischemic group (P > 0.05). NR severity in the ischemic-reperfusion TFPI-1 group was significantly attenuated compared to IR group (0.39 + or - 0.11 vs. 0.54 + or - 0.06, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION:Upregulated TF mRNA expression in the NR area and increased plasma TF level during reperfusion period, reduced plasma TFPI-1 level during reperfusion period as well as attenuated NR severity by extrinsic application of human rTFPI-1 in this model suggested an important role in the pathogenesis of the NR phenomenon.