Circulating adhesion molecules in apoE-deficient mouse strains with different atherosclerosis susceptibility

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2005 Apr 15;329(3):1102-7. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2005.02.090.

Abstract

Recruitment of inflammatory cells in the arterial wall by vascular adhesion molecules plays a key role in development of atherosclerosis. Apolipoprotein E-deficient (apoE(-/-)) mice have spontaneous hyperlipidemia and develop all phases of atherosclerotic lesions. We sought to examine plasma levels of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) and sP-selectin in two apoE(-/-) strains C57BL/6 (B6) and BALB/c with early or advanced lesions. Mice were fed chow or a Western diet containing 42% fat, 0.15% cholesterol, and 19.5% casein. On either diet, BALB/c.apoE(-/-) mice developed much smaller atherosclerotic lesions and displayed significantly lower levels of sVCAM-1 and sP-selectin than B6.apoE(-/-) mice. The Western diet significantly elevated sVCAM-1 levels in both strains and sP-selectin levels in B6.apoE(-/-) mice. BALB/c.apoE(-/-) mice exhibited 2-fold higher HDL cholesterol levels on the chow diet and 15-fold higher HDL levels on the Western diet than B6.apoE(-/-) mice, although the two strains had comparable levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride. Thus, increased atherosclerosis is accompanied by increases in circulating VCAM-1 and P-selectin levels in the two apoE(-/-) mouse strains, and the high HDL level may protect against atherosclerosis by inhibiting the expression of adhesion molecules in BALB/c.apoE(-/-) mice.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apolipoproteins E / blood
  • Apolipoproteins E / deficiency*
  • Arteriosclerosis / blood*
  • Arteriosclerosis / classification*
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / blood
  • Cholesterol, Dietary / blood*
  • Cholesterol, HDL / blood*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Disease Susceptibility / blood
  • Disease Susceptibility / classification
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • P-Selectin / blood*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / blood*

Substances

  • Apolipoproteins E
  • Biomarkers
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Cholesterol, Dietary
  • Cholesterol, HDL
  • P-Selectin
  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1