Chronic LPSF/GQ-02 treatment attenuates inflammation and atherosclerosis development in LDLr-/- mice

Background: Atherosclerosis is a complex disorder with a multifactorial pathogenesis. We previously indicated that the new TZD LPSF/GQ-02 inhibits hepatic steatosis and inflammation, which are reported as risk factors for atherosclerosis development. Here, we explored the effects of LPSF/GQ-02 on atherosclerosis in LDLr-/- mice comparing two treatment periods. Methods and results: LDLr-/- mice were fed a high-fat diet for 10 and 12 weeks and received oral treatment with LPSF/GQ-02 (30 mg/kg/day) or pioglitazone (20 mg/kg/day) for 15 and 30 days, respectively. Both treatment protocols with LPSF/GQ-02 resulted in lower collagen density in the atherosclerotic lesions. In addition, the treatment for 15 days also decreased mRNA levels of CD40, MCP-1, ABCG1 and upregulated PPAR alpha, whereas the 30-days treatment reduced the protein levels of LOX-1, p-I kappa B alpha and p-NF kappa B. Conclusion: This study provides evidence that LPSF/GQ-02 affects the composition and growth of atherosclerotic lesions in LDLr-/- mice. Moreover, our data also support previous findings showing anti-inflammatory properties of LPSF/GQ-02 and reinforce the therapeutic potential of this TZD for treating atherosclerosis and inflammation-related disorders.