Zhao Huanqiang, Chen Lei, He Chunyan, Li Shaobo, Yang Han, Xu Xiaogang, Hu Fupin, Cui Zelin, Liu Qingzhong
Department of Clinical Laboratory.
Department of Urology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine.
Acta Cardiol Sin. 2020 Jan;36(1):24-32. doi: 10.6515/ACS.202001_36(1).20190611B.
It has been reported that infectious agents contribute to the atherosclerotic process. However, it is unclear whether superantigen (SAg) toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) has an effect on atherosclerosis progression. The present study was designed to investigate the pathogenic role of TSST-1 exposure in the atherosclerotic process in rabbits.
New Zealand White rabbits were exposed to TSST-1 through Alzet miniosmotic pumps with a constant pumping rate. Aortic atherosclerosis was evaluated by histological and morphometric methods. Using a biochemical analyzer/enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay/immunostaining, we further analyzed various atherosclerosis-related factors.
The gross atherosclerotic lesion area in the aortic arch increased by 15.3% in high-fat-diet rabbits exposed to TSST-1 compared to that in the control group. In the atherosclerotic lesions, TSST-1 exposure increased the content of smooth muscle cells. Moreover, TSST-1 treatment up-regulated serum tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) level, but did not affect serum lipids (except for triglycerides) and endotoxin in the rabbits.
Our data validated that chronic stimulation with TSST-1 facilitates the progression of atherosclerosis in rabbits independently of endotoxins, indicating that S. aureus and its SAgs may be targets to prevent and treat atherosclerosis.
据报道，感染因子参与动脉粥样硬化进程。然而，超抗原（SAg）中毒性休克综合征毒素-1（TSST-1）是否对动脉粥样硬化进展有影响尚不清楚。本研究旨在探讨暴露于TSST-1在兔动脉粥样硬化进程中的致病作用。
通过具有恒定泵注速率的Alzet微型渗透泵使新西兰白兔暴露于TSST-1。采用组织学和形态计量学方法评估主动脉粥样硬化情况。使用生化分析仪/酶联免疫吸附测定/免疫染色，我们进一步分析了各种与动脉粥样硬化相关的因素。
与对照组相比，暴露于TSST-1的高脂饮食兔主动脉弓处的总体动脉粥样硬化病变面积增加了15.3%。在动脉粥样硬化病变中，暴露于TSST-1增加了平滑肌细胞含量。此外，TSST-1处理上调了兔血清肿瘤坏死因子α（TNF-α）水平，但不影响血清脂质（除甘油三酯外）和内毒素水平。
我们的数据证实，TSST-1的慢性刺激可促进兔动脉粥样硬化进展且不依赖内毒素，表明金黄色葡萄球菌及其超抗原有可能成为预防和治疗动脉粥样硬化的靶点。
