The effects of repeated administration of poloxamer 407 (P-407) on lipoprotein-cholesterol (LP-C) and lipoprotein-triglyceride (LP-TG) fractions and subfractions, as well as the effect on liver and heart proteases, were studied. Repeated administration of P-407 to male CBA mice resulted in a model of atherosclerosis with increased diastolic blood pressure; there was a drastic increase in total serum cholesterol and especially TG. A novel small-angle X-ray scattering method for the determination of the fractional and subfractional composition of LP-C and LP-TG was used. In chronically P-407-treated mice, P-407 significantly increased atherogenic low-density lipoprotein C (LDL-C) fractions, as well as intermediate-density lipoprotein C (IDL-C), and LDL₁₋₃-C subfractions, and very-low-density lipoprotein-C (VLDL-C) fractions, as well as VLDL₁₋₂-C and VLDL₃₋₅-C subfractions), to a lesser extent, the total anti-atherogenic high-density lipoprotein C (HDL-C) fraction, as well as HDL₂-C and HDL₃-C subfractions. Additionally, we demonstrated an increase in the serum chitotriosidase activity, without significant changes in serum matrix metalloprotease (MMP) activity. Morphological changes observed in P-407-treated mice included atherosclerosis in the heart and storage syndrome in the liver macrophages. P-407 significantly increased the activity of cysteine, aspartate proteases, and MMPs in the heart, and only the activity of cathepsin B and MMPs in the liver of mice. Thus, repeated administration of P-407 to mice induced atherosclerosis secondary to sustained dyslipidemia and formation of foamy macrophages in liver, and also modulated the activity of heart and liver proteases.

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The concentration of tissue inhibitor of type 1 metalloproteinases in blood serum from intact CBA mice measured by enzyme immunoassay is similar to that in healthy humans. The concentration of tissue inhibitor of type 1 metalloproteinases in mouse bile was higher than in blood serum, while its concentration in liver homogenate more than 1000-fold exceeded that in the serum, which attests to its primarily intracellular localization in the liver. Loading of liver cell lysosomes with Triton WR-1339 and development of intrahepatic cholestasis did not affect the concentration of tissue inhibitor of type 1 metalloproteinases in liver homogenate and bile. Administration of CCl4 to mice for 4.5 weeks was accompanied by an increase in the concentration of tissue inhibitor of type 1 metalloproteinases in blood serum, but not in liver homogenate. These changes reflect dysregulation of metalloproteinases, development of inflammation, and progression of the initial stage of connective tissue formation in mouse liver.

Chronic administration of the poloxamer 407 (P-407), a block copolymer, to elevate serum lipids in mice is a well-established mouse model of hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis. We tested the hypothesis that the activity of several types of proteases in heart and liver tissue is changed in the early stages of atherosclerosis development. Additionally, we evaluated whether increased serum lipids would induce anxiety in mice, as determined by using a ‘plus-maze’ test. The mice were administered P-407 by intraperitoneal injection twice a week for one month. P-407 administration to mice resulted in a marked increase in total serum cholesterol, atherogenic non-HDL-cholesterol, and especially in total triglycerides, and it also increased anxiety. Morphological changes observed in P-407-treated mice included contractile type changes in cardiomyocytes and foamy macrophages in liver. A significant increase of cysteine proteases cathepsin B and cathepsin L (at 24 h) and aspartate protease cathepsin D (at both 24 h and 5 days) was determined in heart tissue following P-407 administration. However, no changes were noted in heart matrix metalloproteinase activity. The activity of cysteine and aspartate proteases was significantly increased in liver at both 24 hours and 5 days after P-407 administration. In conclusion, administration of P-407 to mice for one month resulted in increased anxiety, and more importantly, there was an increase in the activity of heart and liver proteases secondary to sustained dyslipidemia. It is suggested that heart and liver cysteine and aspartate proteases may represent potential therapeutic targets in the early stages of atherosclerosis.

Lysosomal enzyme activity in the bile and blood serum was compared in mice with experimental intrahepatic cholestasis induced by alpha-naphthyl isothiocyanate and Triton WR 1339. Triton WR 1339 increases the synthesis of cholesterol (fatty acid precursor) in liver cells. The development of intrahepatic cholestasis was confirmed by the increase in activities of alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyltransferase in blood serum. Administration of Triton WR 1339 in a dose of 100 mg/100 g was followed by a 10-fold increase in beta-galactosidase activity (hepatocyte lysosomal enzyme) in the bile, but not in the serum of mice. beta-Galactosidase activity significantly increased in the bile, but decreased in the serum of mice after treatment with a-naphthyl isothiocyanate in a dose of 200 mg/kg. Our results indicate that intrahepatic cholestasis is manifested in increased secretion of lysosomal glycosidases into the bile. Bile components can aggravate damage to liver cells by affecting the processes of hepatocyte apoptosis and necrosis.