Chronic Ethanol Consumption and Chronic Mental Stress Promoted the Development of Atherosclerosis and Increased the Risk of Cardiovascular Events

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25460869
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Legal medicine
• Research Institution: Yamaguchi University
• Principal Investigator: LIU Jinyao 山口大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 講師 (60379956)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): FUJIMIYA Tatsuya 山口大学, 大学院医学系研究科, 教授 (50219044)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: アルコール / 慢性心理的ストレス / 動脈硬化 / 心血管イベント / 遺伝子 / 血管エコー / 先天的動脈硬化マウス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

C57BL/6j and apolipoprotein E and low-density lipoprotein receptor double knockout male mice were randomly divided into alcoholic or chronic mental stress (CMS) study, and then reared for 16 weeks. Ethanol promoted the development of atherosclerosis and induced the down-regulation of endothelial cell layer repair gene (CD34) and up-regulations of the monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and matrix metallopeptidase 9 (an enzyme involved in the extracellular matrix degradation) gene expressions in abdominal aortas. CMS, especially in mice with hyperlipidemia, showed the high risk of cardiovascular events via the developed atherosclerosis accompanied the down-regulation of nitric oxide synthase 3 and up-regulation of lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 gene expressions (the genes that related to the endothelial dysfunction).
The chronic heavy drink and CMS could be the risk factors for cardiovascular disease, especially in subject with hyperlipidemia.

Free Research Field

法医学