Probucol Protects Against Atherosclerosis Through Lipid-lowering and Suppressing Immune Maturation of CD11c+ Dendritic Cells in STZ-induced Diabetic LDLR-/- Mice

J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 2015 Jun;65(6):620-7. doi: 10.1097/FJC.0000000000000234.

Abstract

Probucol, an agent characterized by lipid-lowering and antioxidant property, retards atherosclerosis effectively. To test the hypothesis that probucol might act its antiatherosclerotic role by suppressing immune maturation of dendritic cells (DCs), 7-week-old LDLR mice were rendered diabetic with streptozotocin (STZ) and then fed either a high-fat diet only or added with 0.5% (wt/wt) probucol for 4 months, and human monocyte-derived dendritic cells were preincubated with or without probucol and stimulated by oxidized low-density lipoprotein. In STZ-induced diabetic LDLR mice, probucol treatment significantly lowered plasma total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels; regressed aortic atherosclerotic lesions; reduced splenic CD40, CD80, CD86, MHC-II expression, and plasma IL-12p70 production; and decreased the expression of CD11c DCs within atherosclerotic lesions. In vitro, oxidized low-density lipoprotein promoted human monocyte-derived dendritic cells maturation; stimulated CD40, CD86, CD1a, HLA-DR expression; increased tumor necrosis factor-α production; and decreased IL-4 production. However, these effects were obviously inhibited by probucol pretreatment. In conclusion, our study indicated that probucol effectively retarded atherosclerosis at least partly through lipid-lowering and inhibiting immune maturation of CD11c DCs in STZ-induced diabetic LDLR mice.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aortic Diseases / blood
  • Aortic Diseases / immunology
  • Aortic Diseases / prevention & control*
  • Atherosclerosis / blood
  • Atherosclerosis / immunology
  • Atherosclerosis / prevention & control*
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • CD11c Antigen / immunology
  • CD11c Antigen / metabolism*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cholesterol / blood*
  • Cytokines / blood
  • Dendritic Cells / drug effects*
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology
  • Dendritic Cells / metabolism
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / chemically induced
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / drug therapy*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / immunology
  • Diabetic Angiopathies / blood
  • Diabetic Angiopathies / immunology
  • Diabetic Angiopathies / prevention & control*
  • Diet, High-Fat
  • Down-Regulation
  • Humans
  • Hypolipidemic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Inflammation Mediators / blood
  • Lipoproteins, LDL / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Probucol / pharmacology*
  • Receptors, LDL / deficiency*
  • Receptors, LDL / genetics
  • Streptozocin*

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • CD11c Antigen
  • Cytokines
  • Hypolipidemic Agents
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • Lipoproteins, LDL
  • Receptors, LDL
  • oxidized low density lipoprotein
  • Streptozocin
  • Cholesterol
  • Probucol