Treatment of rabbits with atherosclerosis induced by cholesterol feeding with daunorubicin associated to a lipid core nanoparticle (LDE)

Atherosclerosis is a cell-proliferative, chronic inflammatory process. The aim was to investigate whether lipid core nanoparticles (LDE) carrying the anti-cancer agent daunorubicin could have anti-atherosclerotic effects. LDE is taken-up by cellular lipoprotein receptors and is capable of concentrating incorporated drugs in inflammed tissues. New Zealand male rabbits were fed 1% cholesterol diet for 8 weeks. Then, animals were treated with LDE-daunorubicin (6 mg/kg/week, IV, n = 9) or with LDE only (n = 7). Atherosclerotic lesions in LDE-daunorubicin group were 50% smaller than in LDE group. In LDE-daunorubicin, protein expressions of the pro-inflammatory markers CD68, TNF-α IL-6 and gene expression MCP-1 were lower than in LDE. Gene expression of IL-1β, IL-18 and IL-10 were similar. Protein expressions of VEGF and of pro-apoptotic caspase 3, caspase 9 and BAX, and both protein and gene expressions of VCAM-1 were all lower in LDE-daunorubicin. Gene expression of MMP-12 and protein expression of MMP-2 were lower in LDE-daunorubicin, but MMP-9 was not different. Daunorubicin is known as cardiotoxic, but at echocardiography, LDE-daunorubicin had no differences in arch aorta diameters, systolic and diastolic function and in cardiac hypertrophy compared to LDE group. LDE-daunorubicin was capable of reducing atherosclerotic lesions by different mechanisms without observable toxicities.