Abstract: To investigate the effect of green tea polyphenols (GTP) on phosphorylated p38MAPK in experimental atherosclerosis (AS) rabbits.Pure healthy male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups:Control group:feeding ordinary granulated feed; AS group:high-fat diet combined immune injury; GTP+AS group:in addition to the high-fat diet combined immune injury,green tea polyphenol was given 100 mg/kg·d.Histopathology and vascular ultrasound examination were used to evaluate AS in experimental rabbits.Western blot was used to detect the expression of phosphorylated p38MAPK (pp38MAPK),and enzymelinked immunosorbent assay was used to determine the secretion of TNF-α in experimental rabbits.Compared with control group,the level of TNF-α and p-p38MAPK were significantly increased (P<0.01).After giving GTP,the level of TNF-α and p-p38MAPK were significantly decreased (P<0.01).GTP can delay AS plaque progression and suppresses inflammation,these effects were possibly related to inhibit p38MAPK signal pathway activation.

Key words: GTP, atherosclerosis, p38MAPK, signal transduction