The effect of doxycycline on atherogenesis in apoe-knockout mice

Doxycycline at subantimicrobial doses inhibits matrix metalloproteinases (mmps) activity,and is the only mmp inhibitor which is widely available in clinical practice. the aim of the study was to reveal whether non-specific mmps inhibition by tetracycline could ameliorate development of atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein e (apoe)-knockout mice. doxycycline (1.5 mg/ kg b.w./day) administered orally attenuated atherogenesis,measured both by en face method (10.25±1.7% vs. 15.7±2.0%,p<0.05) and cross-section method (66,254±7,468 μm 2 vs. 90,687±8,521 μm 2,p<0.05). in-situ zymography showed decrease of the extent of non-specific gelatinase activity in doxycycline-treated mice this is the first report to date describing the effect of doxycycline on atherogenesis in apoe-targeted mice.