Effects of D-4F on Vasodilation and Vessel Wall Thickness in Hypercholesterolemic LDL Receptor–Null and LDL Receptor/Apolipoprotein A-I Double-Knockout Mice on Western Diet

Previously we showed L-4F, a novel apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) mimetic, improved vasodilation in 2 dissimilar models of vascular disease: hypercholesterolemic LDL receptor–null (Ldlr −/− ) mice and transgenic sickle cell disease mice. Here we determine the mechanisms by which D-4F improves vasodilation and arterial wall thickness in hypercholesterolemicLdlr −/− mice andLdlr −/− /apoA-I null (apoA-I −/− ), double-knockout mice.Ldlr −/− andLdlr −/− /apoA-I −/− mice were fed Western diet (WD) with and without D-4F. Oral D-4F restored endothelium- and endothelial NO synthase (eNOS)-dependent vasodilation in direct relationship to duration of treatments and reduced wall thickness in as little as 2 weeks in vessels with preexisting disease inLdlr −/− mice. D-4F had no effect on total or HDL cholesterol concentrations but reduced proinflammatory HDL levels. D-4F had no effect on plasma myeloperoxidase concentrations but reduced myeloperoxidase association with apoA-I as well as 3-nitrotyrosine in apoA-I. D-4F increased endothelium- and eNOS-dependent vasodilation inLdlr −/− /apoA-I −/− mice but did not reduce wall thickness as it had inLdlr −/− mice. Vascular endothelial cells were treated with 22(R )-hydroxycholesterol with and without L-4F. 22(R )-Hydroxycholesterol decreased NO (·NO) and increased superoxide anion (O2 ·− ) production and increased ATP-binding cassette transporter-1 and collagen expression. L-4F restored ·NO and O2 ·− balance, had little effect on ATP-binding cassette transporter-1 expression, but reduced collagen expression. These data demonstrate that although D-4F restores vascular endothelial cell and eNOS function to increase vasodilation, HDL containing apoA-I, or at least some critical concentration of the antiatherogenic lipoprotein, is required for D-4F to decrease vessel wall thickness.