Pro-inflammation and pro-fibrosis factors were highly induction in heart tissues of carotid arteries balloon-injured animal model

To investigate the changes of cardiomyocyte inflammation and fibrosis factors in heart of carotid artery balloon injury inflammatory rat model. Using rat carotid artery balloon injury model to detect left ventricular characteristics at 2h, 2days and 14days after surgery using hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) gross stain, Masson's trichome stain and Western blot analysis for inflammatory and fibrosis-induced factors, tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα), JNK1, P38α, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), SP1 and transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) protein expressions. The rat carotid arteries were injured after 2h, 2days and 14days. Balloon-angioplasty to H&E stain results showed the increasing trend of left ventricular wall at 2h and 2days; then, the left ventricular wall became thinner, and the left ventricular chamber became enlarged and dilated after 14days of carotid artery balloon injury. In addition, the Masson's trichome stain results showed that the left ventricular section has fibrosis-related blue staining (collagen) at 2 and 14days after rat carotid artery balloon injury, and became even more severe at 14days. Furthermore, we observed the protein expression level changs, which include TNFα, JNK1, P38α, CTGF, SP1 and TGFβ using Western blotting assay. All proteins were induced at 2h, 2days and then reached the maximal level at 14days. The vessel inflammation was associated with cardiac inflammatory and fibrosis effects during or after carotid artery balloon injury.