Over-Expression of p190RhoGEF Regulates the Formation of Atherosclerotic Plaques in the Aorta of ApoE−/− Mice via Macrophage Polarization

The RhoA-specific guanine nucleotide exchange factor p190RhoGEF has been implicated in the control of cell morphology, focal adhesion formation, and motility. Previously, we reported that is also active various immune cells. In this study, examined whether over-expression could affect atherosclerotic plaque formation mouse aortae. For purpose, transgenic (TG) mice over-expressing were cross-bred with atherosclerosis-prone apolipoprotein E (ApoE)−/− to obtain p190RhoGEF-TG ApoE−/− backgrounds (TG/ApoE−/−). Aortic was significantly increased TG/ApoE mice−/− at 30 40 weeks age compared mice. Serum concentrations inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 TNF-α) greater TG/ApoE−/− than ~40 age. Furthermore, had a proportion peritoneal macrophages within M1 subset age, together higher production stronger responses bacterial lipopolysaccharide Collectively, these results highlight crucial role enhanced expression atherosclerosis progression, including activation pro-inflammatory macrophages.