Tissue expression of TNF-alpha and IL-18 by real time PCR in initiated atherosclerosis in wistar male rats

Atherosclerosis is diverse disease with heterogenous mechanisms of progression and is an oxidative, chronic inflammatory and thrombotic disease produced by elevated level of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in the blood. Initiation of atherosclerosis begins with the production of various inflammatory cytokines and adhesive molecules on the endothelium of the large muscular arteries like aorta. The present study was carried out to know the expression of TNF-Alpha and IL-18 by real time PCR (Polymerase chain reaction).

Procured 24 Wistar albino rats and divided into two groups consisting of 12 rats in each. Atherosclerosis was induced by addition of 1% cholesterol and 15% saturated oil to the 1000g of standard rat diet and given to group II rats. Group I kept as control and maintained for 90 days.

Group II rats clinically showed obesity with significant increase (p<0.05) in the body weight. TC, TG, LDL-C, VLDL-C were significantly (p<0.05) higher, whereas HDL-C was significantly (p<0.05) reduced. Atherogenic diet induced the initiation of atherosclerosis in the aorta with degeneration of endothelial cells, sub intimal lipid laden macrophages (foam cells), slight thickening of the tunica intima with proliferation of few SMCs in group I rats. Present study revealed positive expression of TNF- alpha and no expression of IL-18 cytokine in the aorta of group II rats by RT-PCR.