Urantide improves atherosclerosis by controlling C-reactive protein, monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and transforming growth factor-β expression in rats

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of urantide on the expression status of C-reactive protein (CRP) and the inflammatory cytokines monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β in the aortas of rats with atherosclerosis (AS), and to identify its underlying mechanisms. The effects of urantide in a rat model of AS and in cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were analyzed via hematoxylin and eosin staining, immunohistochemical staining and ELISA. The results in vivo demonstrated that urantide downregulated the expression of inflammatory mediators CRP and MCP-1 and upregulated the expression of TGF-β. The results in vitro indicated that urantide inhibited the proliferation of VSMCs. In addition, urantide reduced the expression of CRP and downregulated the secretion of TGF-β in the culture supernatant. In conclusion, urantide ameliorated the arterial inflammatory damage that was observed in the AS rat model at the cell and tissue levels by controlling the expression of CRP and the inflammatory cytokines MCP-1 and TGF-β. Therefore, urantide may be a potential agent for the complementary treatment of AS.