Finasteride Reduces Total Cholesterol in LDLR-Deficient Mice

Deletion of LOX-1 reduces atherogenesis in LDLR knockout mice fed high cholesterol diet.

Atherosclerosis is associated with oxidative stress and inflammation, and upregulation of LOX-1, an endothelial receptor for oxidized LDL (oxLDL). Here, we describe generation of LOX-1 knockout (KO) mice in which binding of oxLDL to aortic endothelium was reduced and endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation preserved after treatment with oxLDL (P<0.01 versus wild-type mice). To address whether endo...

The Thyroid Receptor Modulator KB3495 Reduces Atherosclerosis Independently of Total Cholesterol in the Circulation in ApoE Deficient Mice

BACKGROUND Thyroid hormones (TH) regulate cholesterol metabolism but their use as lipid-lowering drugs is restricted due to negative cardiac effects. TH mimetic compounds modulating TH receptor β (THRβ) have been designed as potential drugs, reducing serum cholesterol levels while avoiding apparent deleterious cardiac effects. OBJECTIVE Using ApoE deficient mice, we examined whether KB3495, a...

Thrombin inhibitor reduces myocardial infarction in apoE-/- x LDLR-/- mice.

We have previously shown that atherosclerotic apolipoprotein E-deficient (apoE(-/-)) x LDL receptor-deficient (LDLR(-/-)) mice develop myocardial infarction when exposed to hypoxic stress. This study was performed to assess the role of thrombin and thrombosis in this process. ApoE(-/-) x LDLR(-/-) mice were fed a cholesterol-rich diet for 8 mo and were then subjected to hypoxic stress while rec...

Macrophage deficiency of Akt2 reduces atherosclerosis in Ldlr null mice.

Macrophages play crucial roles in the formation of atherosclerotic lesions. Akt, a serine/threonine protein kinase B, is vital for cell proliferation, migration, and survival. Macrophages express three Akt isoforms, Akt1, Akt2, and Akt3, but the roles of Akt1 and Akt2 in atherosclerosis in vivo remain unclear. To dissect the impact of macrophage Akt1 and Akt2 on early atherosclerosis, we genera...

National Cholesterol Awareness Month Inactivation of the LRP1 Intracellular NPxYxxL Motif in LDLR-Deficient Mice Enhances Postprandial Dyslipidemia and Atherosclerosis