Brief report: increased apoptosis in advanced atherosclerotic lesions of Apoe-/- mice lacking macrophage Bcl-2.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Macrophage apoptosis plays important roles in atherosclerosis. Bcl-2 is a key cell survival molecule, but its role in macrophage apoptosis in atherosclerosis is not known. The goal herein was to determine the effect of macrophage-targeted deletion of Bcl-2 on macrophage apoptosis in atherosclerotic lesions of Apoe(-/-) mice.

Methods and results

Bcl2(flox)-LysMCre mice were created as a model of macrophage Bcl-2 deficiency. Macrophages from these mice were more susceptible to apoptosis than those from control Bcl2(WT)-LysMCre mice. The mice were bred onto the Apoe(-/-) background and fed a Western-type diet for 4 or 10 weeks. Apoptotic cells were equally very rare in the lesions of both groups of the 4-week-diet mice, and there was no difference in lesion area. Howe

SUBMITTER: Thorp E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2731712 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature