title: Apolipoprotein E4 domain interaction accelerates diet-induced atherosclerosis in hypomorphic Arg-61 apoe mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Apolipoprotein (apo) E4 is an established risk factor for atherosclerosis, but the structural components underlying this association remain unclear. ApoE4 is characterized by 2 biophysical properties: domain interaction and molten globule state. Substituting Arg-61 for Thr-61 in mouse apoE introduces domain interaction without molten globule state, allowing us to delineate potential proatherogenic effects of domain interaction in vivo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We studied atherosclerosis susceptibility of hypomorphic Apoe mice expressing either Thr-61 or Arg-61 apoE (ApoeT(h/h) or ApoeR(h/h)mice). On a chow diet, both mouse models were normolipidemic with similar levels of plasma apoE and lipoproteins. However, on a high-cholesterol diet, ApoeR(h/h) mice displayed increased levels of total plasma cholesterol and very-low-density lipoprotein as well as larger atherosclerotic plaques in the aortic root, arch, and descending aorta compared with ApoeT(h/h) mice. In addition, evidence of cellular dysfunction was identified in peritoneal ApoeR(h/h) macrophages which released lower amounts of apoE in culture medium and displayed increased expression of major histocompatibility complex class II molecules.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data indicate that domain interaction mediates proatherogenic effects of apoE4 in part by modulating lipoprotein metabolism and macrophage biology. Pharmaceutical targeting of domain interaction could lead to new treatments for atherosclerosis in apoE4 individuals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of California San Francisco and VA Medical Center, San Francisco, CA 94121, USA.
authors.forename: Delphine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Eberlé
authors.forename: Roy Y
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Fu Sang
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Luk
authors.forename: Nabora Soledad Reyes
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: de Mochel
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gaudreault
authors.forename: Victor R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Olivas
authors.forename: Nikit
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Jessica M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Posada
authors.forename: Andrew C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Birkeland
authors.forename: Joseph H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Rapp
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Raffai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics*; D004036:Diet, Atherogenic / Q000009:adverse effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout
chemical_list: D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D004247:DNA