Abstract
Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in atherosclerosis animal model of type 2 diabetes mellitus treated with simvastatin was investigated. Clean grade mature Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were divided into three groups: Normal control (n=10), model (n=13) and treatment group (n=13); low-dose simvastatin was administered. The changes of VEGF and TGF-β1 levels were analyzed by tail vein blood sampling. The relationship between levels of VEGF, TGF-β1 and treatment time was analyzed. The expression level of VEGF in the treatment group after 4 and 8 weeks of intervention was lower compared with the model group (P<0.05). The expression level of TGF-β1 in the treatment group after 8 weeks of intervention was higher than that in the model group (P<0.05). The expression level of VEGF in the treatment group after 8 weeks of intervention was lower than that after 1 week of intervention (P<0.05). The expression level of TGF-β1 was increased in the model group after 8 weeks of intervention compared with 1 week before and after the intervention (P<0.05). The expression level of TGF-β1 in the treatment group at 2, 4 and 8 weeks after intervention were significantly higher than that before intervention (P<0.05). The expression of TGF-β1 increased after 4 and 8 weeks after intervention compared with 1 week after intervention (P<0.05). The expression of VEGF was negatively correlated with TGF-β1 expression in the treatment group; negative correlation was found between VEGF and treatment time. There was a positive correlation between TGF-β1 and treatment time. VEGF and TGF-β1 may be involved in the development of type 2 diabetes (T2MD) atherosclerosis (AS). Simvastatin may play a therapeutic role in T2MD AS by downregulating VEGF and upregulating the expression of TGF-β1.