マウスの実験的動脈硬化に対するエリスロマイシンの効果

Effects of Erythromycin upon Experimental Murine Atherosclerosis

要旨

　目的：エリスロマイシン(EM)の抗炎症などの作用に注目し，アポリポプロテインE(アポE)ノックアウトマウスの動脈硬化に対するEMの効果を検討した．方法：動脈硬化はアポEノックアウトマウスに高脂肪食を与えて作製した．6週齢のアポEノックアウトマウスに，EM(33mg/kg)の腹腔内投与を週5回，8週間行い，コントロール群と比較した．結果：コントロール群と比べ，EM投与群で，動脈硬化病変が有意に減少した．EM投与により，マクロファージ，CD4，CD8の発現とスーパーオキシド(SOD)の発現が抑制された．炎症性サイトカインのmRNAの発現が，EM投与により有意に減少した．結語：EMにより動脈硬化症が抑制された．EMによる動脈硬化に対する抑制効果は，抗炎症作用に加えSODの産生の抑制が重要なのではないかと考えられた．

　［Objective］We investigated the effects of erythromycin(EM)on atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E(apoE)-deficient mice, focusing on the anti-inflammatory effects.［Methods］Atherosclerosis was induced in the mice by feeding them a high-fat diet. Six-week-old apoE-deficient mice were treated with intraperitoneal injections of EM(33mg/kg/day)5 times per week over 8 weeks;the effect was compared with untreated controls. [Results］The extent of atherosclerotic lesions in the EM treated group was significantly less when compared with the control group. The expression of macrophages, CD4 T cells, and CD8 T cells as well as the production of superoxide dismutase(SOD)were suppressed by EM treatment. mRNA levels of inflammatory cytokines in the EM treated group were significantly reduced when compared with the control group. [Conclusions］EM is effective for the treatment of atherosclerosis. The suppressive effects of EM on atherosclerosis may be via anti-inflammatory effects as well as decreasing SOD production.