Lack of alpha CGRP exacerbates the development of atherosclerosis in ApoE-knockout mice.

ABSTRACT: The effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) on atherosclerosis remain unclear. We used apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE^-/-) mice to generate double-knockout ApoE^-/-:CGRP^-/- mice lacking alpha CGRP. ApoE^-/-:CGRP^-/- mice exhibited larger atherosclerotic plaque areas, peritoneal macrophages with enhanced migration functions, and elevated levels of the inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-⍺. Thus, we also explored whether inhibiting TNF-⍺ could improve atherosclerosis in ApoE^-/-:CGRP^-/- mice by administering etanercept intraperitoneally once a week (5 mg/kg) alongside a high-fat diet for 2 weeks. This treatment led to significant reductions in aortic root lesion size, atherosclerotic plaque area

SUBMITTER: Hashikawa-Hobara N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11306347 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature