Objective: To explore the effect of recombinant adenovirus Ad-FLT-1/PC on the expression of vascular inflammatory factors in rats with diabetic nephropathy atherosclerosis.
Methods: A total of 68 rats of diabetic nephropathy atherosclerosis were randomly divided into three groups of Ad-FLT-1/PC [recombinant adenovirus with protein C (PC) gene, n = 23], Ad-green fluorescence protein (recombinant blank adenovirus with GFP, n = 23), normal saline (n = 22) and compared with normal control (n = 23). And 300 µl of each was transfected via caudal vein. At day 1, 3, 7 and 14 post-transfection, 5 or 6 rats of each group were randomly sacrificed to observe the distribution of vascular fluorescence by frozen section. And the expression of PC was examined by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The expressions of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) protein in vascular wall were measured by IHC.
Results: At day 3 after an injection of Ad-FLT-1/PC, green fluorescence was observed in vascular endothelium and continued until 14 days. IHC showed protein C in endothelial cells of Ad-FLT-1/PC group was higher than those of Ad-GFP and NS groups at Days 3-14 (P < 0.05). IHC showed the amounts of TNF-α and ICAM-1 in Ad-FLT-1/PC group were lower than those in GFP and NS groups at Day 7 post-transfection (P < 0.05). GFP and NS groups had no difference at all timepoints (P > 0.05).
Conclusions: The recombinant adenovirus Ad-FLT-1/PC may be transfected into vascular walls of rats with diabetic nephropathy atherosclerosis. And exogenous PC can effectively express and protect vascular walls by inhibiting the expression of inflammatory cytokines.