Cocoa polyphenols are thought to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Thus, cocoa-containing foods may have significant health benefits. Here, we studied the impact of chocolate liquor on vascular lesion development and plaque composition in a mouse model of atherosclerosis. Apolipoprotein E (apoE)-knockout mice were assigned to two groups and fed a Western diet that contained 250 g/kg of either chocolate liquor or a polyphenol-free isoenergetic control paste for 16 weeks. In addition to fat, protein, and fibers, the chocolate liquor contained 2 g/kg of polyphenols. Compared with the control group, mice fed the chocolate liquor had larger plaque areas in the descending aorta and aortic root, which were attributed to a higher mass of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and collagen. Vascular lipid deposits and calcification areas did not differ between the two groups. The aortic tissue level of interleukin-6 (IL-6) mRNA was 5-fold higher in the mice fed chocolate liquor than in the control mice. Chocolate-fed mice exhibited an increased hepatic saturated to polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio than the controls. Although the chocolate liquor contained 14 µg/kg of vitamin D2, the chocolate liquor-fed mice did not have measurable 25-hydroxyvitamin D2 in the serum. These mice even showed a 25% reduction in the level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 compared with the control mice. Overall, present data may contribute to our understanding how chocolate constituents can impact vascular lesion development.
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October 2017
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In this issue of Clinical Science, Thompson et al (pages 2489-2501) describe their research on the capacity of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B inhibitor to reverse atherosclerotic plaque formation in a mouse model. The cover image shows aortic root sections of mice fed on a high-fat-diet that are stained with Oil Red - a method the authors used to quantify plaque formation in this study.
Research Article|
October 13 2017
Impact of chocolate liquor on vascular lesions in apoE-knockout mice
Narges Yazdekhasti;
Narges Yazdekhasti
1Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany
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Corinna Brandsch;
Corinna Brandsch
1Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany
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Frank Hirche;
Frank Hirche
1Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany
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Julia Kühn;
Julia Kühn
1Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany
4Competence Cluster of Cardiovascular Health and Nutrition (nutriCARD), Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Germany
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Anke Schloesser;
Anke Schloesser
3Institute of Human Nutrition and Food Science, University of Kiel, Germany
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Tuba Esatbeyoglu;
Tuba Esatbeyoglu
3Institute of Human Nutrition and Food Science, University of Kiel, Germany
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Patricia Huebbe;
Patricia Huebbe
3Institute of Human Nutrition and Food Science, University of Kiel, Germany
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Siegfried Wolffram;
Siegfried Wolffram
2Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, University of Kiel, Germany
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Gerald Rimbach;
Gerald Rimbach
3Institute of Human Nutrition and Food Science, University of Kiel, Germany
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Gabriele I. Stangl
1Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany
4Competence Cluster of Cardiovascular Health and Nutrition (nutriCARD), Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Germany
Correspondence: Gabriele I. Stangl ([email protected])
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
April 04 2017
Revision Received:
September 07 2017
Accepted:
September 19 2017
Accepted Manuscript online:
September 21 2017
Online ISSN: 1470-8736
Print ISSN: 0143-5221
© 2017 The Author(s). Published by Portland Press Limited on behalf of the Biochemical Society
2017
Clin Sci (Lond) (2017) 131 (20): 2549–2560.
Article history
Received:
April 04 2017
Revision Received:
September 07 2017
Accepted:
September 19 2017
Accepted Manuscript online:
September 21 2017
Citation
Narges Yazdekhasti, Corinna Brandsch, Frank Hirche, Julia Kühn, Anke Schloesser, Tuba Esatbeyoglu, Patricia Huebbe, Siegfried Wolffram, Gerald Rimbach, Gabriele I. Stangl; Impact of chocolate liquor on vascular lesions in apoE-knockout mice. Clin Sci (Lond) 1 October 2017; 131 (20): 2549–2560. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/CS20170279
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