Fufang-Zhenzhu-Tiaozhi capsule ameliorates rabbit's iliac artery restenosis by regulating adiponectin signaling pathway

Background and purpose: Fufang-Zhenzhu-Tiaozhi Capsule (FTZ), a traditional Chinese medicine, has been shown obvious effects on the treatment of dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether FTZ can ameliorate rabbit iliac artery restenosis after angioplasty by regulating adiponectin signaling pathway. Experimental approach: The rabbit iliac artery restenosis model was established through percutaneous iliac artery transluminal balloon angioplasty and a high-fat diet. Twenty eight male New Zealand rabbits (8-week-old) were divided into sham operation group (Group I), model group (Group II), atorvastatin group (Group III) and FTZ group (Group IV), with 7 rabbits in each group. Vascular stenosis was analyzed with Digital Subtraction Angiography. Level of adiponectin (APN), and inflammatory factor including interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) as well as monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) was measured by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay; and injured iliac artery was collected for Hematoxylin-eosin staining and Western Blotting detection of expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPAR-alpha), adenosine 5'monophosphate -activated protein kinase (AMPK) and phosphorylated adenosine 5'-monophosphate -activated protein kinase (p-AMPK). Besides, we evaluated FTZ's safety for the first time. Key results: Percutaneous iliac artery transluminal balloon angioplasty and high-fat diet result in inflammatory response and restenosis. Compared with Group II, iliac artery restenosis was significantly ameliorated in Group IV (P < 0.05). Treated with FTZ, serum lipids were significantly decreased (P < 0.01), while the level of APN was elevated significantly (P < 0.01). Western blotting detection of the injured iliac artery showed that the expressions of PPAR-alpha, AMPK and p-AMPK were significantly increased in Group IV (P < 0.01) than that in Group II. Besides, before and after taking drugs, liver and kidney function indicators, creatine kinase, as well as measurement of echocardiography were of no statistical difference in four groups(P > 0.05). Conclusions and implications: FTZ could effectively reduce serum lipids and ameliorate rabbit's iliac artery restenosis after angioplasty, and its mechanism may be related to activation of APN signaling pathway.