SPF雞胚蛋改善動脈硬化的分子作用機制

Molecular Mechanisms of Action of Specific Pathogen-Free Chick Embryo Eggs for Atherosclerosis

心血管疾病 (Cardiovascular disease, CVD)的形成原因，主要是由於脂肪與膽固醇沉積，進而產生動脈粥狀硬化 (atherosclerosis)。形成的機轉主要由於血管內皮細胞及血管壁平滑肌細胞對傷害性刺激所引起一連串的發炎反應。近年來有研究指出，吃雞蛋對心血管系統有特殊的保護作用，尤其是新鮮的雞胚蛋(CEE)蛋白質含量較高，其所含氨基酸與必需脂肪酸的含量更接近人類需要，且脂肪與游離膽固醇含量相較於傳統雞蛋顯著較低。本研究選用自發性高血壓大鼠t (spontaneously hypertensive rat；SHR)，透過餵食八週高膽固醇飼料的方式來建立一個動脈粥狀硬化的疾病動物模式。之後採用無特定病原(specific pathogen free，SPF)雞種所孵育的胚胎蛋 (已受精且胚胎發育正常之 11日齡之雞蛋 )，經冷凍乾燥程序製成SPF雞胚蛋粉末，連續餵食 SHR大鼠八週，進行心血管疾病風險評估指標。實驗結果發現，餵食已產生誘發性粥狀動脈硬化大鼠 SPF雞胚蛋 (CEE)組八週後(n=6)，可顯著降低血中 TG的濃度、提高 HDL/LDL Ratio。特別是在投予 CEE 1, 4 與 8週後，各時間點血中的高敏感度 C-反應蛋白(hs-CRP)都呈現顯著下降趨勢(p<0.05)。組織病理 HE染色檢查顯示，投予 CEE 8週後有明顯改善大鼠主動脈管壁增生與頸動脈內皮組織纖維化等病理徵狀。免疫組織化學染色 (IHC)分析進一步顯示， CEE組顯著降低大鼠頸動脈的轉化生長因子(TGF-β)的蛋白質表現 (p<0.05)。

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a class of chronic diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels (arteries and veins). Most CVD deaths are attributable to excess fat and cholesterol deposited on vascular walls, which causes atherosclerotic complications. We investigated the ameliorative effects and underlying mechanisms of specific pathogen-free (SPF) chicken embryo eggs (CEE) on atherosclerosis. The cardiovascular disease risk assessment indicators of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) (n = 6) with high-fat diet (HFD)-induced atherosclerosis and treated with SPF CEE for 8 weeks were evaluated. Their HDL/LDL ratios had significantly increased, and their blood triglyceride concentrations had significantly decreased. Plasma high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels significantly (p < 0.05) decreased after 1, 4, and 8 weeks of SPF CEE treatment. Histopathological examinations consistently indicated that 8 weeks of SPF CEE treatment significantly reduced the thickness of hyperplasic vascular walls and HFD-induced local fibrosis on aortic and carotid artery walls. Furthermore, immunohistochemical staining showed that SPF CEE treatment significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited the expression of transforming growth factor-β protein on the carotid artery walls of rats. We found that long-term (8 weeks) SPF CEE treatment attenuated the pathological effects of atherosclerosis. SPF CEE might provide a new raw material for developing functional foods to attenuate cardiovascular disease.