Abstract

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent organic environmental pollutants. According to previous epidemiological reports, PCBs exposure is highly related to atherosclerosis. However, studies of PCBs metabolites and atherosclerosis and corresponding mechanism studies are scarce. In this study, we evaluated the effect of 2,3,5-trichloro-6-phenyl-[1,4]-benzoquinone (PCB29-pQ), a presumptive PCB metabolite, on atherosclerosis. Aortic plaques were increased in PCB29-pQ-treated ApoE–/– mice [intraperitoneally (i.p.) injection of 5 mg/kg body weight of PCB29-pQ once a week for 12 continuous weeks, high-fat feeding]. We observed lipids accumulation and the release of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in ApoE–/– mice. In addition, we found that PCB29-pQ promoted the levels of total cholesterol, free cholesterol, triglyceride, and cholesteryl ester. Mechanism investigation indicated that PCB29-pQ induces the activation of three branches of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response, that is, phosphorylated protein kinase R-like ER kinase (p-PERK), eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α (eIF2α) and transcription factor 6 (ATF6), which is responsible for downstream necrosis. More importantly, we found the silence of CD36 is able to reverse PCB29-pQ-induced adverse effects completely. Overall, PCB29-pQ exposure resulted in lipid accumulation, ER stress response, apoptosis, and pro-inflammatory cytokines release via CD36, ultimately leading to atherosclerosis.