Relative contributions of apolipoprotein(a) and apolipoprotein-B to the development of fatty lesions in the proximal aorta of mice.
Transgenic mice expressing transgenes for both human apolipoprotein B-100 (h-apoB) and apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)] were fed a high-fat, atherogenic diet for 14 weeks to examine the effect of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)]on the development of aortic fatty lesions. The extent of lesions in the proximal region of the aorta of Lp(a) mice was measured by use of a computer-assisted image analysis of 20 sections per animal and compared with that of nontransgenic mice as well as mice expressing either the apo(a) or h-apoB transgene. The control (n = 23) and apo(a) (n = 22) transgenic mice had very small mean lesions areas (607 versus 128 microns2 per section). The h-apoB-expressing mice (n = 20) had significantly higher mean lesion areas (3288 microns2 per section) than either the control or apo(a) transgenic animals. Coexpression of apo(a) and h-apoB transgenes resulted in only a modest increase in lesion area (4678 microns2 per section, n = 19). Thus, the expression of human apo(a) in C57BL/6/SJL hybrid mice fed an atherogenic diet failed to significantly potentiate the development of aortic fatty lesions in the absence or presence of high levels of h-apoB.
Mancini
F P
FP
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235-9046, USA.
Newland
D L
DL
Mooser
V
V
Murata
J
J
Marcovina
S
S
Young
S G
SG
Hammer
R E
RE
Sanan
D A
DA
Hobbs
H H
HH
D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology; D001053:Apolipoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D053241:Apoprotein(a); D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004036:Diet, Atherogenic; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D006801:Humans; D017270:Lipoprotein(a); D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic
D001053:Apolipoproteins; D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D017270:Lipoprotein(a); D053241:Apoprotein(a)