Targeting Fas-associated protein with death domain gene with chitosan-lipid nanoparticles inhibits coronary heart disease progression in mice

Abstract

Cell apoptosis or programmed cell death is a physiological phenomenon during the development of the body; however, under certain pathological conditions, insufficient, or excessive apoptosis can cause tissue damage and physiological dysfunction. This study investigated the inhibition of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL)-induced macrophage apoptosis in mice with coronary heart disease by regulating the target Fasassociated protein with death domain (FADD) gene. We used Western blotting to measure the effect of oxLDL on mouse macrophages and observe the effects of adding simvastatin, 3-methyladenine (3-MA), self-blocking, and other drugs. The results indicated that the target FADD gene played an important role in inhibiting lactate dehydrogenase release by 13%, in the process of oxLDL-induced lipid aggregation in macrophages. The EC50 observed by dual acridine orange/ethidium bromide fluorescence-staining accounts for the proportion of FADD being reduced by 32%, indicating that the target FADD gene exhibited a significant inhibitory effect on oxLDL-induced macrophage apoptosis in coronary heart disease. This study used a novel chitosan-lipid nanoparticle as a gene carrier to significantly improve efficacy. Therefore, targeting the FADD gene using novel chitosan-lipid nanoparticles to deliver siRNA could be a potential clinical treatment in coronary heart disease.