Sledování vlivu atorvastatinu na expresi markeru TGF - B1 kaskády

Charles University in Prague Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové Department of Biological and Medical Sciences Candidate: Mgr. Jan Dvořáček Consultant: Doc. PharmDr. Petr Nachtigal, PhD Title of Thesis: The study of atorvastatin effect on the expression of TGF-β1 cascade marker. Background: The aim of this thesis was to establish and describe the expression of phosphorylated form of Smad2 in the atherosclerotic lesions in apoE/LDLr-deficient mice. Moreover we evaluated the effect of atorvastatin on p-Smad-2 expression beyond its lipid lowering effects. Methods: Using female mice C57BL/6J strain with a double deficit of apolipoprotein E and LDL-receptor was performed biochemical analysis of blood specimens, histological staining with oil red for detection of lipids and immunohistochemical analysis of aortic siinus. Avidin-biotin method with DAB visualization was used to detect expression of p- Smad2. Results: Using biochemical analysis we confirmed increased levels of cholesterol in mice fed standard diet with addition of atorvastatin as compared with mice on standard diet. Histological staining with oil red showed significant decrease in atherosclerotic lesion size in mice treated by atorvastatin as compared with untreated group. We demonstrated expression of p-Smad2 in atherosclerotic plaques by...