Atherosclerosis in C3H/HeJ mice reconstituted with apolipoprotein E-null bone marrow

Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2002 Apr 1;22(4):650-5. doi: 10.1161/01.atv.0000013388.03553.31.

Abstract

Previous studies showed that reconstitution of atherosclerosis-susceptible C57BL/6 (B6) female mice with apolipoprotein E (apoE)-deficient (apoE(-/-)) bone marrow resulted in markedly increased atherosclerosis, despite the fact that plasma lipid levels were unchanged. To determine whether apoE(-/-) bone marrow would increase atherosclerosis in an atherosclerosis-resistant strain, female C3H/HeJ (C3H) mice were lethally irradiated and reconstituted with bone marrow from either C3H.apoE(-/-) mice or wild-type C3H mice. Four weeks after transplantation, the mice were fed an atherogenic diet for 12 weeks. We found that reconstitution of C3H mice with apoE(-/-) bone marrow resulted in a slight reduction in plasma apoE levels and a dramatic reduction in apoE and apolipoprotein B (apoB) in the aortic wall. Plasma apoB and cholesterol levels were unchanged, as were atherosclerotic lesions at the aortic root. These data indicate that reconstitution of C3H mice with apoE(-/-) bone marrow has no effect on atherosclerosis susceptibility and that apoE promotes accumulation of apoB in the vessel wall.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aorta / metabolism
  • Apolipoproteins B / metabolism*
  • Apolipoproteins E / deficiency
  • Apolipoproteins E / genetics
  • Apolipoproteins E / metabolism*
  • Arteriosclerosis / etiology*
  • Arteriosclerosis / metabolism
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation
  • Cholesterol / metabolism
  • Diet, Atherogenic
  • Female
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C3H

Substances

  • Apolipoproteins B
  • Apolipoproteins E
  • Cholesterol