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Study · Animal study (in vivo) · mouse · 2017

11 results

Chronic administration of mitochondrion-targeted peptide SS-31 prevents atherosclerotic development in ApoE knockout mice fed Western diet.

Zhang M, Zhao H, Cai J, Li H, Wu Q, Qiao T, Li K

PloS one29 Sept 2017Cited by 27 (Europe PMC)

Summary

BackgroundOxidative stress and inflammatory factors are deeply involved in progression of atherosclerosis. Mitochondrion-targeted peptide SS-31, selectively targeting to mitochondrial inner membrane reacting with cardiolipin, has been reported to inhibit ROS generation and mitigate inflammation. The present study was designed to investigate whether SS-31 could suppress the development of atherosclerosis in vivo.MethodsMale ApoE-/- mice (8 weeks old) fed with Western diet were treated with normal saline or SS-31 (1 mg/kg/d or 3 mg/kg/d) through subcutaneous injection for 12 weeks. Oil Red O staining was performed to evaluate area and sizes of the plaques. DHE staining and immunohistochemical staining of 8-OHDG was performed to assess the oxidative stress. The aorta ATP contents were assessed by the ATP bioluminescence assay kit. Immunohistochemical staining of CD68 and α-SMA and Masson's trichrome staining were performed to evaluate the composition of atherosclerotic plaque. Biochemical assays were performed to determine the protein level and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD). The levels of CD36, LOX-1 and ABCA1 were immunohistochemically and biochemically determined to evaluate the cholesterol transport in aorta and peritoneal macrophages. Inflammatory factors, including ICAM-1, MCP-1, IL-6 and CRP in serum, were detected through ELISA.ResultsSS-31 administration reduced the area and sizes of western diet-induced atherosclerotic plaques and changed the composition of the plaques in ApoE-/- mice. Oxidative stress was suppressed, as evidenced by the reduced DHE stain, down-regulated 8-OHDG expression, and increased SOD activity after chronic SS-31 administration. Moreover, systemic inflammation was ameliorated as seen by decreasing serum ICAM-1, MCP-1, and IL-6 levels. Most importantly, SS-31 administration inhibited cholesterol influx by down-regulating expression of CD36 and LOX-1 to prevent lipid accumulation to further suppress the foam cell formation and atherosclerotic progression.ConclusionAdministration of SS-31 prevents against atherosclerotic formation in ApoE-/- mice suggesting that SS-31 might be considered to be a potential drug to prevent atherosclerotic progression.
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study11

11 results from studies that gave the peptide. No result from this study comes from people.

  1. 01AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In ApoE-/- mice fed a Western diet, SS‑31 reduced the area of atherosclerotic plaques.

    In plain wordsIn mice prone to artery plaques, SS‑31 reduced the area of plaques compared with saline.

    Outcome
    DecreaseAtherosclerotic plaque area
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    ApoE-/- mice fed a Western diet
    Comparator
    Normal saline
    Outcome group
    Vascular function · Cardiovascular
    Studied dose
    1 or 3 mg/kg/d · subcutaneous · 12 weeksAs given in this study (mouse).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    SS-31 administration reduced the area and sizes of western diet-induced atherosclerotic plaques and changed the composition of the plaques in ApoE-/- mice.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Male ApoE-/- mice (8 weeks old) fed with Western diet were treated with normal saline or SS-31 (1 mg/kg/d or 3 mg/kg/d) through subcutaneous injection for 12 weeks.
  2. 02AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In ApoE-/- mice fed a Western diet, SS‑31 reduced the size of atherosclerotic plaques.

    In plain wordsIn mice prone to artery plaques, SS‑31 reduced the size of plaques compared with saline.

    Outcome
    DecreaseAtherosclerotic plaque size
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    ApoE-/- mice fed a Western diet
    Comparator
    Normal saline
    Outcome group
    Vascular function · Cardiovascular
    Studied dose
    1 or 3 mg/kg/d · subcutaneous · 12 weeksAs given in this study (mouse).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    SS-31 administration reduced the area and sizes of western diet-induced atherosclerotic plaques and changed the composition of the plaques in ApoE-/- mice.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Male ApoE-/- mice (8 weeks old) fed with Western diet were treated with normal saline or SS-31 (1 mg/kg/d or 3 mg/kg/d) through subcutaneous injection for 12 weeks.
  3. 03AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In ApoE-/- mice fed a Western diet, SS‑31 changed the composition of the plaques.

    In plain wordsIn mice prone to artery plaques, SS‑31 changed what the plaques were made of, compared with saline.

    Outcome
    MixedPlaque composition
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    ApoE-/- mice fed a Western diet
    Comparator
    Normal saline
    Outcome group
    Vascular function · Cardiovascular
    Studied dose
    1 or 3 mg/kg/d · subcutaneous · 12 weeksAs given in this study (mouse).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    SS-31 administration reduced the area and sizes of western diet-induced atherosclerotic plaques and changed the composition of the plaques in ApoE-/- mice.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Male ApoE-/- mice (8 weeks old) fed with Western diet were treated with normal saline or SS-31 (1 mg/kg/d or 3 mg/kg/d) through subcutaneous injection for 12 weeks.
  4. 04AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism

    In ApoE-/- mice fed a Western diet, chronic SS‑31 reduced DHE staining.

    In plain wordsIn mice prone to artery plaques, SS‑31 lowered a stain marking oxidative stress, compared with saline.

    Outcome
    DecreaseDHE staining (oxidative stress)
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    ApoE-/- mice fed a Western diet
    Comparator
    Normal saline
    Outcome group
    Oxidative stress · Cardiovascular
    Studied dose
    1 or 3 mg/kg/d · subcutaneous · 12 weeksAs given in this study (mouse).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Oxidative stress was suppressed, as evidenced by the reduced DHE stain, down-regulated 8-OHDG expression, and increased SOD activity after chronic SS-31 administration.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Male ApoE-/- mice (8 weeks old) fed with Western diet were treated with normal saline or SS-31 (1 mg/kg/d or 3 mg/kg/d) through subcutaneous injection for 12 weeks.
  5. 05AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism

    In ApoE-/- mice fed a Western diet, chronic SS‑31 down-regulated 8-OHDG expression.

    In plain wordsIn mice prone to artery plaques, SS‑31 lowered 8-OHDG, a marker of oxidative damage, compared with saline.

    Outcome
    Decrease8-OHDG expression
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    ApoE-/- mice fed a Western diet
    Comparator
    Normal saline
    Outcome group
    Oxidative stress · Cardiovascular
    Studied dose
    1 or 3 mg/kg/d · subcutaneous · 12 weeksAs given in this study (mouse).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Oxidative stress was suppressed, as evidenced by the reduced DHE stain, down-regulated 8-OHDG expression, and increased SOD activity after chronic SS-31 administration.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Male ApoE-/- mice (8 weeks old) fed with Western diet were treated with normal saline or SS-31 (1 mg/kg/d or 3 mg/kg/d) through subcutaneous injection for 12 weeks.
  6. 06AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism

    In ApoE-/- mice fed a Western diet, chronic SS‑31 increased SOD activity.

    In plain wordsIn mice prone to artery plaques, SS‑31 raised the activity of the antioxidant enzyme SOD, compared with saline.

    Outcome
    IncreaseSOD activity
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    ApoE-/- mice fed a Western diet
    Comparator
    Normal saline
    Outcome group
    Oxidative stress · Cardiovascular
    Studied dose
    1 or 3 mg/kg/d · subcutaneous · 12 weeksAs given in this study (mouse).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Oxidative stress was suppressed, as evidenced by the reduced DHE stain, down-regulated 8-OHDG expression, and increased SOD activity after chronic SS-31 administration.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Male ApoE-/- mice (8 weeks old) fed with Western diet were treated with normal saline or SS-31 (1 mg/kg/d or 3 mg/kg/d) through subcutaneous injection for 12 weeks.
  7. 07AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In ApoE-/- mice fed a Western diet, SS‑31 decreased serum ICAM-1 levels.

    In plain wordsIn mice prone to artery plaques, SS‑31 lowered the inflammation marker ICAM-1 in blood, compared with saline.

    Outcome
    DecreaseSerum ICAM-1
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    ApoE-/- mice fed a Western diet
    Comparator
    Normal saline
    Outcome group
    Inflammation markers · Cardiovascular
    Studied dose
    1 or 3 mg/kg/d · subcutaneous · 12 weeksAs given in this study (mouse).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Moreover, systemic inflammation was ameliorated as seen by decreasing serum ICAM-1, MCP-1, and IL-6 levels.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Male ApoE-/- mice (8 weeks old) fed with Western diet were treated with normal saline or SS-31 (1 mg/kg/d or 3 mg/kg/d) through subcutaneous injection for 12 weeks.
  8. 08AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In ApoE-/- mice fed a Western diet, SS‑31 decreased serum MCP-1 levels.

    In plain wordsIn mice prone to artery plaques, SS‑31 lowered the inflammation marker MCP-1 in blood, compared with saline.

    Outcome
    DecreaseSerum MCP-1
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    ApoE-/- mice fed a Western diet
    Comparator
    Normal saline
    Outcome group
    Inflammation markers · Cardiovascular
    Studied dose
    1 or 3 mg/kg/d · subcutaneous · 12 weeksAs given in this study (mouse).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Moreover, systemic inflammation was ameliorated as seen by decreasing serum ICAM-1, MCP-1, and IL-6 levels.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Male ApoE-/- mice (8 weeks old) fed with Western diet were treated with normal saline or SS-31 (1 mg/kg/d or 3 mg/kg/d) through subcutaneous injection for 12 weeks.
  9. 09AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In ApoE-/- mice fed a Western diet, SS‑31 decreased serum IL-6 levels.

    In plain wordsIn mice prone to artery plaques, SS‑31 lowered the inflammation marker IL-6 in blood, compared with saline.

    Outcome
    DecreaseSerum IL-6
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    ApoE-/- mice fed a Western diet
    Comparator
    Normal saline
    Outcome group
    Inflammation markers · Cardiovascular
    Studied dose
    1 or 3 mg/kg/d · subcutaneous · 12 weeksAs given in this study (mouse).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Moreover, systemic inflammation was ameliorated as seen by decreasing serum ICAM-1, MCP-1, and IL-6 levels.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Male ApoE-/- mice (8 weeks old) fed with Western diet were treated with normal saline or SS-31 (1 mg/kg/d or 3 mg/kg/d) through subcutaneous injection for 12 weeks.
  10. 10AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism

    In ApoE-/- mice fed a Western diet, SS‑31 down-regulated CD36 expression, which inhibited cholesterol influx.

    In plain wordsIn mice prone to artery plaques, SS‑31 lowered CD36 levels, which reduced cholesterol uptake, compared with saline.

    Outcome
    DecreaseCD36 expression
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    ApoE-/- mice fed a Western diet
    Comparator
    Normal saline
    Outcome group
    Lipids · Cardiovascular
    Studied dose
    1 or 3 mg/kg/d · subcutaneous · 12 weeksAs given in this study (mouse).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Most importantly, SS-31 administration inhibited cholesterol influx by down-regulating expression of CD36 and LOX-1 to prevent lipid accumulation to further suppress the foam cell formation and atherosclerotic progression.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Male ApoE-/- mice (8 weeks old) fed with Western diet were treated with normal saline or SS-31 (1 mg/kg/d or 3 mg/kg/d) through subcutaneous injection for 12 weeks.
  11. 11AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism

    In ApoE-/- mice fed a Western diet, SS‑31 down-regulated LOX-1 expression, which inhibited cholesterol influx.

    In plain wordsIn mice prone to artery plaques, SS‑31 lowered LOX-1 levels, which reduced cholesterol uptake, compared with saline.

    Outcome
    DecreaseLOX-1 expression
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    ApoE-/- mice fed a Western diet
    Comparator
    Normal saline
    Outcome group
    Lipids · Cardiovascular
    Studied dose
    1 or 3 mg/kg/d · subcutaneous · 12 weeksAs given in this study (mouse).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Most importantly, SS-31 administration inhibited cholesterol influx by down-regulating expression of CD36 and LOX-1 to prevent lipid accumulation to further suppress the foam cell formation and atherosclerotic progression.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Male ApoE-/- mice (8 weeks old) fed with Western diet were treated with normal saline or SS-31 (1 mg/kg/d or 3 mg/kg/d) through subcutaneous injection for 12 weeks.

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

  1. Version 2Current

    10 Oct 2026, 08:19 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 1

    9 Oct 2026, 02:47 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

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