The Impact of Intermittent and Repetitive Cold Stress Exposure on Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Instability of Atherosclerotic Plaques

Abstract

Background: The incidence of acute coronary syndrome caused by the rupture of atherosclerotic plaque and subsequent arterial thrombosis increases as the weather gets colder. However, the association between cold stress and atherosclerotic plaque rupture is currently unknown. Methods: An atherosclerotic plaque model was established in rabbits by balloon injury and a high-fat diet with or without cold stress (4°C, 1 hour per day, 20 weeks) at the onset of modeling. Additionally, oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) was applied to induce the formation of macrophage foam cells in vitro. Results: Serum lipid profiles and inflammatory cytokines (ox-LDL, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and interleukin-8) were significantly higher in cold stress-exposed rabbits than in controls (PConclusions: Cold stress may enhance the instability of atherosclerotic plaques through activating ERS and enhancing cell apoptosis. Up-regulated CHOP levels mediated by PERK and ATF6 and the activated IRE1-XBP1-JNK pathway contributed to the apoptosis of foam cells.

Keywords

• Instability
• Endoplasmic reticulum stress
• Cold stress
• Atherosclerotic plaque