Background: Increased levels of homocysteine and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL) are considered
independent risk factors for atherosclerosis. However, no previous study has examined the effects of
ethanol-induced increase of homocysteine and Ox-LD on aortic vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation.
The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between ethanol consumption,
increase in homocysteine, Ox-LDL, and aortic VSMC proliferation in rats.
Methods and results: To address this issue, 24 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups:
control, sham, and ethanol-treated. Homocysteine, Ox-LDL, lipid profile, and aortic VSMC proliferation
were assessed after 42 days. The results revealed a concurrent, significant increase in homocysteine and
Ox-LDL levels, lipid profile levels, and aortic VSMC proliferation in the ethanol-treated group compared
with the control and sham groups.
Conclusion: Based on these results, we conclude that ethanol apparently exerts aortic VSMC proliferation
through increase in homocysteine and Ox-LDL-mediated oxidative stress, which in turn trigger
proatherogenic changes in the aortic wall.