Adipokine Chemerin Stimulates Progression of Atherosclerosis in ApoE(−/−) Mice

BACKGROUND: Vascular remodeling is the most critical pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Adipokine chemerin was known for its relationship with obesity as well as metabolism. Most recently, chemerin was found to play a crucial role in the pathologic process of cardiovascular diseases including coronary heart disease. In this study, we surveyed the role of chemerin in progression of atherosclerosis in ApoE(−/−) mice. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between chemerin and progression of atherosclerosis in ApoE(−/−) mice and its mechanism. METHODS: 8-week-old ApoE(−/−) mice were fed with high-fat diet to induce the atherosclerosis model. Adenoviruses were transfected for knockdown or overexpression of chemerin gene into aorta. Serums and aortic tissues of ApoE(−/−) mice were obtained after feeding high-fat diet for 16 weeks. HE staining and oil red staining were performed to evaluate aortic plaque. ELISA was performed to explore serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). Real-time PCR and western blotting were carried out to investigate the mRNA and protein levels of chemerin, nuclear factor-κB p65 (NF-κBp65), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p-p38-MAPK), phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (p-JNK), and phosphorylated extracellular signal regulated kinase 1/2 (p-ERK 1/2). RESULT: Aortic plaque formation was significantly induced by high-fat diet in ApoE(−/−) mice. Simultaneously, elevated serum levels of TNF-α and IL-1β and elevated mRNA and protein levels of chemerin, NF-κBp65, PCNA, p-p38-MAPK, p-JNK, and p-ERK 1/2 were found in ApoE(−/−) mice. After aortic chemerin gene was inhibited by adenovirus, aortic atherosclerosis induced by high-fat diet was significantly meliorated, serum levels of TNF-α and IL-1β decreased, mRNA and protein levels of NF-κBp65, PCNA, p-p38-MAPK, p-JNK, and p-ERK 1/2 decreased simultaneously. CONCLUSION: Our study revealed that chemerin stimulated the progression of atherosclerosis in ApoE(−/−) mice.