Antiatherosclerotic potential of aspirin: Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory approaches

Abstract

Objective: this study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of aspirin on the progression of atherosclerosis. Materials and methods: A total of 28 local domestic rabbits were assigned to four groups: Group I (normal control), Group II (atherogenic control), Group III (vehicle control),Group IV (aspirin 10 mg\kg daily). Blood samples were collected at the end of experiment (8 weeks) for measurement of serum triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), HDL-C, plasma high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) and plasma reduced glutathione (GSH). Immunohistochemical analysis (VCAM-1, MCP-1, and TNF-α) and histopathologic assessment of aortic atherosclerotic changes were also performed. Results: Compared to NC, levels of lipid profile, atherogenic index, hsCRP, and MDA are increased while GSH were decreased in animals on atherogenic diet (p< 0.05). Immunohistochemical analysis showed that aortic expression of VCAM 1, MCP-1, and TNF-α were significantly increased in AC group compared to NC group (p<0.001). Histopathologic finding showed that animals on atherogenic diet have significant atherosclerotic lesion compared to NC group. Compared to AC group aspirin don’t have significant effect on lipid profile. Aspirin causes statistically significant reduction in hsCRP and MDA (p<0.05). Aspirin treatment causes significantly increase the level of GSH. Aspirin treatment significantly reduced aortic expression of VCAM-1, MCP-1, and TNF-α (p<0.05). Histopathologic examination of aortic arch showed that aspirin significantly reduced atherosclerotic lesion (p<0.05).
Conclusions: It thus can conclude that aspirin reduces lipid peroxidation, systemic inflammation and aortic expression of inflammatory markers used in this study and hence reduce the progression of atherosclerosis.