Increased monocyte/neutrophil and pro-coagulant microparticle levels and overexpression of aortic endothelial caveolin-1β in dyslipidemic sand rat, Psammomys obesus

AimsTo compare the effects of a high-energy diet (HED) with those of a low-energy diet (LED) on biochemical parameters, microparticle (MP) subpopulations and endothelial caveolin-1 (cav-1) protein expression in Psammomys obesus (P. obesus).MethodsAfter 12 weeks of feeding with either the HED or LED, fasting plasma glucose and lipid parameters were measured using an enzymatic colorimetric kit while serum insulin concentration was determined with radioimmunoassay kits. MP subpopulations and cav-1 protein expression were quantified using flow cytometry and western blot analysis, respectively.ResultsWe observed that the HED caused a marked increase in lipid parameters, even in normoglycemic P. obesus. The total number of circulating MPs and the numbers of platelet-, leukocyte-, and erythrocyte-derived MPs were unaltered in the HED group. However, the HED induced increases in the numbers of monocytes/neutrophils and procoagulant MPs and a decrease in the endothelial MP levels. Cav-1β protein expression and reactive oxygen species production were increased in the vascular endothelium of HED-treated P. obesus.ConclusionFrom these findings, it is indicated that the HED exerts deleterious effects on the vascular system by increasing the monocyte/neutrophil and procoagulant MP levels, which may lead to cav-1β protein overexpression in dyslipidemic P. obesus.