Mercaptoethanol Protects the Aorta from Dissection by Inhibiting Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Extracellular Matrix Degeneration in a Mouse Model

Abstract

BackgroundThe aims of this study were to investigate the effects of mercaptoethanol treatment on the expression of mediators of oxidative stress, inflammation, and extracellular matrix (ECM) degeneration in a mouse aortic dissection (AD) model.Material/MethodsTwenty-four 8-month-old C57BL/6J mice were divided into three groups and studied for two weeks: 1) the aortic dissection (AD) Model group (N=8) underwent intraperitoneal injection of angiotensin II (Ang II) (5 ml/kg) three times every 24 h; 2) the mercaptoethanol Treated group (N=8) were given oral mercaptoethanol (2.5 mM); the Normal group (N=8) underwent intraperitoneal injection of noradrenaline (5 mg/kg) three times every 24 h. Sections of mouse aorta were prepared for histology with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining; immunohistochemistry was performed to detect levels of: nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (NFE2L2), nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), p65, superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1), glutamate cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9). Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) evaluated mRNA expression of SOD1, GCLC, TNF-α, IL-1β, and MMP9.ResultsMercaptoethanol treatment inhibited Ang II-induced aortic dissection in AD mice, as shown histologically. Mercaptoethanol treatment reduced the expression levels of NFE2L2, NF-κB, p65, TNF-α, IL-1β and increased the expression levels of SOD1, MMP9, and GCLC.ConclusionsIn an AD mouse model, mercaptoethanol treatment inhibited thoracic and abdominal aortic dissection and reduced aortic tissue expression of mediators of oxidative stress and inflammation and increased the activation of ECM signaling pathways.

Visual analysis of abdominal aortitis treatment using the CiteSpace bibliometric method

“…According to the keyword co-occurrence map analysis, abdominal aortitis is closely related to abdominal aortic aneurysm and inflammation[ 12 ]. The research direction of this disease mechanism focused on abdominal aortic lesions[ 13 ] and inflammation[ 14 ]. An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a local dilation of the lower renal segment of the aorta.…”

Serum amyloid a protein as a potential biomarker in predicting acute onset and association with in-hospital death in acute aortic dissection

“…Thus, increased SAA levels in AAD patients may be caused in response to the systemic inflammation, showing its potential value in predicting AAD characteristics. Additionally, on the one hand, the progressive degradation of extracellular matrix is also considered as a critical pathological feature in the pathogenesis and progression of AAD [30]. On the other hand, SAA has been reported to elicit several kinds of matrix metalloproteinases induction in vascular smooth muscle cells in vitro [15, 31, 32].…”

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