Objective     To investigate the changes of the cytokines on the aortas of atherosclerosis (AS) rats.      Methods     Zymosan-liquid medical paraffin suspension (contain Zymosan 20 mg/kg) was injected intra-peritoneally once a week for 10 times and given intraperitoneal injections of ovalbumin

2.5 mg/kg

once a week for 7 times after initial subcutaneous sensitization. All animals were fed cholesterol-rich diet to induce AS. Electron microscopy was used to observe the foam cells

and RayBio

®

  Rat Cytokine Antibody Array 1.1 was employed to detect the cytokines in the aorta wall.      Results     Electron microscopy showed all models had monocytes migration from lumen to subendothelium in the aorta and formed to foam c

ell for phagocytosis lipid

indicating typical characteristic of AS in the rats. Most pro-inflammatory cytokines were increased except Fractalkine and IL-6

but anti-inflammatory cytokines were all slightly decreased.      Conclusion     Inflammation and immune can induce the formation of foam cells. The balance of pro-inflammatory cytokines and anti-inflammatory cytokines is broken is the important reasons of atherogenesis.