Minimally modified low‐density lipoprotein upregulates the ETB and α1 receptors in mouse mesenteric arteries in vivo by activating the PI3K/Akt pathway

• Published in: Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology 2019-06, Vol.71 (6), p.937-944
• Main Authors: Zeng, Zhong‐San, Lin, Jie, Xu, Cang‐Bao, Cao, Lei, Chen, Chen, Li, Jie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 1-Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase; Agonists; AKT protein; Arteries; Contractility; Contraction; Density; ETB receptor; Gene expression; Immunoassays; Lipoproteins; mesenteric artery; mice; minimally modified low‐density lipoprotein; Nitric oxide; Phenylephrine; PI3K/Akt pathway; Polymerase chain reaction; Receptor mechanisms; Veins & arteries; α1 receptor
• ISSN: 0022-3573; 2042-7158
• DOI: 10.1111/jphp.13069

Objectives The current study aimed to explore whether minimally modified low‐density lipoprotein (mmLDL) via tail vein injection upregulates the ETB and α1 receptors in mouse mesenteric arteries by activating the PI3K/Akt pathway. Methods The contraction curves of the mesenteric arteries caused by sarafotoxin 6c (S6c, ETB receptor agonist) and phenylephrine (PE, α1 receptor agonist) were measured by a myograph system. Serum oxLDL was detected using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays. The levels of the ETB receptor, the α1 receptor, PI3K, p‐PI3K and p‐Akt were detected using real‐time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analyses. Key findings Minimally modified low‐density lipoprotein noticeably enhanced the contraction effect curves of S6c and PE, with significantly increased Emax values (P