Pro-inflammation and pro-fibrosis factors were highly induction in heart tissues of carotid arteries balloon-injured animal model

Abstract

To investigate the changes of cardiomyocyte inflammation and fibrosis factors in heart of carotid artery balloon injury inflammatory rat model. Using rat carotid artery balloon injury model to detect left ventricular characteristics at 2 h, 2 days and 14 days after surgery using hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) gross stain, Masson's trichome stain and Western blot analysis for inflammatory and fibrosis-induced factors, tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα), JNK1, P38α, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), SP1 and transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) protein expressions. The rat carotid arteries were injured after 2 h, 2 days and 14 days. Balloon-angioplasty to H&E stain results showed the increasing trend of left ventricular wall at 2 h and 2 days; then, the left ventricular wall became thinner, and the left ventricular chamber became enlarged and dilated after 14 days of carotid artery balloon injury. In addition, the Masson's trichome stain results showed that the left ventricular section has fibrosis-related blue staining (collagen) at 2 and 14 days after rat carotid artery balloon injury, and became even more severe at 14 days. Furthermore, we observed the protein expression level changs, which include TNFα, JNK1, P38α, CTGF, SP1 and TGFβ using Western blotting assay. All proteins were induced at 2 h, 2 days and then reached the maximal level at 14 days. The vessel inflammation was associated with cardiac inflammatory and fibrosis effects during or after carotid artery balloon injury.