Abstract: To investigate the effects of hemeoxygenase 1 (HO-1) overexpression induced by curcumin together with atorvastatin on stabilizing vulnerable plaque and the underlying mechanisms.40 male SD rats were adaptively raised for 1 week before randomly divided into 5 groups,including the control group (Group A),the model group (Group B),the statin group (Group C),the statin+curcumin group (Group D) and the statin+curcumin+ZnPP IX group (Group E).Group A was fed with normal diet.The other groups were make the vulnerable atherosclerosis plaque model by feeding with high fat diet,frostbiting the right common carotid artery with liquid nitrogen,injecting of vtamin D₃ and damaging the immune.After 10 weeks,group C,group D and group E were administrated daily with atorvastatin,atorvastatin+ curcumin,atorvastatin+curcumin+ZnPPIX epectively for one week.The blood samples were collected to detect the HO-1 protein expression and the blood lipid levels as well as the inflammatory and oxidative stress index,the right common carotid artery was harvested to undergo HE staining.Compared with group A,the blood lipid levels,inflammatory and oxidative stress indexes in group B increased significantly (P＜0.05),meanwhile,HE staining showed a marked vulnerable plaque in the carotid artery in group B.Compared with group B,the blood lipid levels significantly decreased while the HO-1 protein expresssion increased in group C,accordingly,the indexes of inflammation and oxidative stress decreased,Carotid plaque became smaller and more stable.The expression of HO-1 protein in group D and group E was significantly higher than that of the group C,however,only D group were significantly superior to group C in the anti-inflammatory,antioxidant and Stabilizing plaque effects (P<0.01).Atorvastatin inhibits atherosclerosis disease mainly by regulating blood lipid levels.Curcumin could significantly induce HO-1 protein expression,which cooperate with atorvastatin to enhance the ability of anti-inflammation,anti-oxidation and stabilize vulnerable plaques.

Key words: Curcumin, atorvastatin, hemeoxygenase 1, atherosclerosis, rats