Insulin receptors in vascular smooth muscle cells regulate plaque stability of atherosclerosis.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

Increased prevalence of acute myocardial infarction related to diabetes and insulin resistance is associated with an elevated risk of unstable atherosclerotic plaques, which are characterized by reduced vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and extracellular matrix (ECM) and increased inflammation. Thus, insulin resistance may reduce plaque stability, as deleting insulin receptors (IRs) in VSMCs decreases their proliferation and enhances apoptosis.

Methods and results

Direct effects of insulin on VSMCs to alter plaque composition were studied using mice with double knockout of ApoE and IR genes in VSMCs with SMIRKO/ApoE-/-, Myh11-CreERT2EYFP+/ApoE-/-, and Myh11-CreERT2EYFP+IRKO/ApoE-/- mice, which were also used for lineage tracing studies. Compared with ApoE-/- mice, SM

SUBMITTER: Li Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11646105 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature