Objective: To observe the influence of ciclosporin A (CsA) or/and FK506 on vascular endothelium of hyperlipidemic rats.
Methods: Hyperlipidemic rat model was established as previously described. The injury of vascular endothelium of these rats was observed after stimulation with FK506 or/and CsA. The mRNA transcription and protein expression of the vascular endothelium growth factor (VEGF), decay-accelerating factor (DAF) and C reactive protein (CRP) in vascular endothelium of rats were measured. The serum reactive oxygen species (ROS) was detected.
Results: Compared with FK506, CsA was more likely to cause injury of vascular endothelium, damaging the integrity of endothelium of hyperlipidemic rats. CsA inhibited the expression of VEGF and the complement inhibitor DAF and increased the expression of CRP of vascular endothelial cells. CsA also up-regulated the serum level of ROS. FK506 showed no such impacts.
Conclusion: CsA can damage vascular endothelium of hyperlipidemic rats by activating the complement system induced by VEGF/DAF and ROS/CRP pathway. FK506 has no influence on the VEGF/DAF pathway and the expression of ROS/CRP.