Rosuvastatin attenuates the progression of atherosclerotic plaque formation in ApoE-/- mice

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of rosuvastatin on the atherosclerotic plaque formation and their underlying molecular mechanisms. Male Apolipoprotein E gene knockout (ApoE(-/-)) mice fed high-fat diet were given saline or rosuvastatin for 8 weeks, respectively. Rosuvastatin significantly ameliorated the progression of atherosclerosis lesion formation without changes in body weight, blood pressure and heart rate, but with significant reductions in plasma total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Furthermore, rosuvastatin attenuated the MOMA2-labeled macrophage infiltration, and the secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and placenta growth factor (PLGF) in atherosclerotic plaque. The results indicate that rosuvastatin impedes the progression of atherosclerosis plaque formation via reducing lipid accumulation and down-regulations of VEGF, VEGFR and PLGF.