Diet-induced atherosclerosis in mice heterozygous and homozygous for apolipoprotein E gene disruption.

SH Zhang, RL Reddick, B Burkey… - The Journal of clinical …, 1994 - Am Soc Clin Investig
SH Zhang, RL Reddick, B Burkey, N Maeda
The Journal of clinical investigation, 1994Am Soc Clin Investig
With the aim of establishing whether a genetically reduced capability of producing
apolipoprotein E (apo E) can affect atherogenesis, we have compared the consequences of
dietary stress on normal mice and on mice heterozygous or homozygous for a disrupted apo
E gene. A dramatically accelerated development of lesions occurred in the vasculature of
the homozygous mutants as a result of feeding an atherogenic diet for 12 wk, and extensive
deposition of lipid-filled macrophages was found outside the cardiovascular system. In nine …
With the aim of establishing whether a genetically reduced capability of producing apolipoprotein E (apo E) can affect atherogenesis, we have compared the consequences of dietary stress on normal mice and on mice heterozygous or homozygous for a disrupted apo E gene. A dramatically accelerated development of lesions occurred in the vasculature of the homozygous mutants as a result of feeding an atherogenic diet for 12 wk, and extensive deposition of lipid-filled macrophages was found outside the cardiovascular system. In nine heterozygotes fed the atherogenic diet for 12 wk, the amount of apo E in their total plasma lipoproteins increased to a level comparable to normal, but all nine developed much larger foam cell lesions in their proximal aorta than those found in 3 of 9 normal mice fed the same diet. The other six normals had no lesions. Our study demonstrates that heterozygous mice with only one functional apo E gene are more susceptible to diet-induced atherosclerosis than are normal, two-copy mice. Genetically determined quantitative limitations of apo E could, therefore, have similar effects in humans when they are stressed by an atherogenic diet.
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The Journal of Clinical Investigation