N‑acetyl cysteine prevents ambient fine particulate matter‑potentiated atherosclerosis via inhibition of reactive oxygen species‑induced oxidized low density lipoprotein elevation and decreased circulating endothelial progenitor cell

Xu,Yixin; Bu,Haoran; Jiang,Yufan; Zhuo,Xiaoqing; Hu,Ke; Si,Zhihua; Chen,Yong; Liu,Qiwei; Gong,Xianwei; Sun,Haihui; Zhu,Qingyi; Cui,Lianqun; Ma,Xiaochun; Cui,Yuqi

doi:10.3892/mmr.2022.12752

N‑acetyl cysteine prevents ambient fine particulate matter‑potentiated atherosclerosis via inhibition of reactive oxygen species‑induced oxidized low density lipoprotein elevation and decreased circulating endothelial progenitor cell

Authors:
- Yixin Xu
- Haoran Bu
- Yufan Jiang
- Xiaoqing Zhuo
- Ke Hu
- Zhihua Si
- Yong Chen
- Qiwei Liu
- Xianwei Gong
- Haihui Sun
- Qingyi Zhu
- Lianqun Cui
- Xiaochun Ma
- Yuqi Cui
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Affiliations: Department of Cardiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, P.R. China, Department of Cardiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, P.R. China, Department of Emergency, Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250014, P.R. China, Department of Pharmacy, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, P.R. China, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, P.R. China
Published online on: May 27, 2022 https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2022.12752
Article Number: 236
Copyright: © Xu et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Ambient fine particulate matter (PM) serves an important role in the development of cardiovascular disease, including atherosclerosis. Antioxidant N‑acetyl cysteine (NAC) has protective effects in the cardiovascular system. However, it is unknown if NAC prevents PM‑potentiated atherosclerosis in hyperlipidemia. Low‑density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor knockout mice were pretreated with 1 mg/ml NAC in drinking water for 1 week and continued to receive NAC, high‑fat diet and intranasal instillation of PM for 1 week or 6 months. Blood plasma was collected for lipid profile, oxidized (ox‑)LDL, blood reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammatory cytokine (TNF‑α, IL‑1β and IL‑6) measurement. Blood cells were harvested for endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) population and intracellular ROS analysis. Murine aorta was isolated for atherosclerotic plaque ratio calculation. NAC treatment maintained circulating EPC level and significantly decreased blood ox‑LDL and ROS, inflammatory cytokines, mononuclear and EPC intracellular ROS levels as well as aortic plaque ratio. NAC prevented PM‑potentiated atherosclerosis by inhibiting plasma ROS‑induced ox‑LDL elevation, mononuclear cell and EPC intracellular ROS‑induced circulating EPC reduction and inflammatory cytokine production.

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