title: Apolipoprotein E-knockout mice on high-fat diet show autoimmune injury on kidney and aorta.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Apolipoprotein E-knockout (ApoE(-/-)) mice is a classic model of atherosclerosis. We have found that ApoE(-/-) mice showed splenomegaly, higher titers of serum anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) and anti-dsDNA antibody compared with C57B6/L (B6) mice. However, whether ApoE(-/-) mice show autoimmune injury remains unclear.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six females and six males in each group, ApoE(-/)(-), Fas(-/-) and B6 mice, were used in this study. The titers of serum ANA, anti-dsDNA antibody and creatinine and urine protein were measured by ELISA after 4 months of high-fat diet. The spleen weight and the glomerular area were determined. The expressions of IgG, C3 and macrophage in kidney and atherosclerotic plaque were detected by immunostaining followed by morphometric analysis. Similar to the characteristics of Fas(-/-) mice, a model of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), ApoE(-/-) mice, especially female, displayed significant increases of spleen weight and glomerular area when compared to B6 mice. Also, elevated titers of serum ANA, anti-dsDNA antibody and creatinine and urine protein. Moreover, the expressions of IgG, C3 and macrophage in glomeruli and aortic plaques were found in ApoE(-/-) mice. In addition, the IgG and C3 expressions in glomeruli and plaques significantly increased (or a trend of increase) in female ApoE(-/-) mice compared with males.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Apolipoprotein E-knockout mice on high-fat diet show autoimmune injury on kidney and aorta.
authors: Cardiovascular Department, Liaocheng People's Hospital of Shandong University, Liaocheng, Shandong 252000, PR China; Cardiovascular Department, The Second Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian 362000, PR China.
authors: Yuehai
authors: Y
authors: Wang
authors: The Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Remodeling and Function Research, Chinese Ministry of Education and Chinese Ministry of Health, Shandong University Qilu Hospital, Jinan, Shandong 250012, PR China.
authors: Huixia
authors: H
authors: Lu
authors: Cardiovascular Department, The Second Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian 362000, PR China. Electronic address: huangziyang666@126.com.
authors: Ziyang
authors: Z
authors: Huang
authors: Cardiovascular Department, The Second Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian 362000, PR China.
authors: Huili
authors: H
authors: Lin
authors: Department of OB/GYN, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40292, USA.
authors: Zhenmin
authors: Z
authors: Lei
authors: Department of Rheumatism and Immunology, The Second Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian 362000, PR China.
authors: Xiaoqing
authors: X
authors: Chen
authors: The Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Remodeling and Function Research, Chinese Ministry of Education and Chinese Ministry of Health, Shandong University Qilu Hospital, Jinan, Shandong 250012, PR China.
authors: Mengxiong
authors: M
authors: Tang
authors: The Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Remodeling and Function Research, Chinese Ministry of Education and Chinese Ministry of Health, Shandong University Qilu Hospital, Jinan, Shandong 250012, PR China.
authors: Fei
authors: F
authors: Gao
authors: The Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Remodeling and Function Research, Chinese Ministry of Education and Chinese Ministry of Health, Shandong University Qilu Hospital, Jinan, Shandong 250012, PR China.
authors: Mei
authors: M
authors: Dong
authors: Department of Rheumatism and Immunology, The Second Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian 362000, PR China.
authors: Rongda
authors: R
authors: Li
authors: Department of Rheumatism and Immunology, The Second Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian 362000, PR China. Electronic address: qzlinl@163.com.
authors: Ling
authors: L
authors: Lin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001025:Aortitis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009393:Nephritis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D016207:Cytokines; D004041:Dietary Fats
keywords: Aorta; Apolipoprotein E-knockout mice; High-fat diet; Immune injury; Kidney