Lectin-like, oxidized, low-density lipoprotein receptorreceptors (LOX-1) recognizes recognize vascular oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL), which may play an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. We investigated the expressions expression of LOX-1 and redox-regulating thyoredoxinthioredoxin systems in a hypertension and hypercholesterolemia rat model.

Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto rat (WKY) rats were fed with a normal cholesterol diet (NC) and a high cholesterol diet (HC) for 4 weeks. Plasma LDL cholesterol levels and blood pressure were measured at 1 and 4 weeks. Histological changes of atherosclerosis in the vessel was evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunocytochemistry. The expressions expression of LOX-1 and thyoredoixnthioredoxin were measured by Western western blot analysis.

In the SHR groupsgroup, blood pressure after 4 weeks was significantly higher than initial levels. LDL-cholesterol levels in the SHR-HC group were increased at 4 weeks (15.3 ± 2.6 mg/dL vs. 20.2 ± 2.6 mg/dL, p < 0.01) compared with the SHR-NC group. In oxyblot analysis, the degree of oxidative stress of in the SHR-HC group was significantly higher than in the SHR-NC group (p < 0.05). The expressions expression of LOX-1 and Trx were was significantly increased in the SHR-HC group compared with the SHR-NC group (p < 0.05) on western blot analysis. Focal overexpressions overexpression of LOX-1 were was observed at the intima layer of the thoracic aorta, and was which wereonly observed in the SHR-HC group.

The expressions expression of LOX-1 and oxidative stress were was significantly increased in the "hypertension with hypercholesterol" rat model. These findings suggested suggest that LOX-1 and redox systems may play a certain role in development and progression of atherosclerosis.